Gothamist: Court Upholds Ban on Cell Phones in Schools

Barbj8

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:15:38 -0500

Now that cell phones are more than cell phones, what with gadgets like MP3 players, cameras etc., not to mention text messaging, there is more at stake. I can deal with a kid with a cell phone in class, but when I'm lecturing against communication central, teacher loses every time. And I don't feel comfortable confiscating the item either, if shit happens to daddy's iPhone, it's my fault.

nayomi

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:34:19 -0500

it saddens me how much folks have to say about the "right to bear gadgets" versus how little they have to say about the sorry state of the doe. i wish cellphones were the biggest obstacle to learning in nyc public schools. i really do.

Dave Hogarty

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:34:45 -0500

Moving in the opposite direction are colleges and universities, which are implementing emergency text and IM notifications in the case of a campus wide emergency, a la Virginia Tech. These systems presuppose that everyone is carrying a cellphone, although I'm sure that professors still come down hard on those who let their phone ring in class. Also, after hearing stories like that girl who had a stroke and had to wait a good amount of time b/f 911 was called as proper channels were navigated, I have little trust in leaving things up to school officials. If one of her friends had a cellphone, they could have called 911 then and there and possibly saved her from irrecoverable brain damage. That being said; kids don't need cell phones in school. It will lead to cheating, distraction, and a ton of crap that has nothing to do with getting an education. Come on, a kid with a cameraphone would only need one second to pull it out and snap a pic of a quiz and then distribute it to everyone else in later classes.

WhereAmI

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:51:11 -0500

Snoopy the problem with that is using an active jammer is for one highly expensive, and secondly you will have to answer to the radio wave overlords known as the FCC as well as up to $11000 in fines and a year in jail.

Snoopy

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:45:27 -0500

They make cellphone jammers, just put them in the classroom and the problem is solved. The kids can use their phones outside if they need to but not in school.

zodak

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:13:45 -0500

yo, where you at? idk, my bff jill?

TKaisen

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:34:21 -0500

the lawyer representing parents and students, said, "We strongly believe the ban is unconstitutional and illegal, Unconstitutional? Really? It should be a capital crime for lawyers to talk outside the courtroom.

Kojak

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:19:17 -0500

I remember when beepers were in style. Boy im getting old

randomdilemma

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:56:29 -0500

Most overused phrase of the past 7 years: "in this post-9/11 world" Seriously, if a plane crashes into PS 122, what good is a cell phone going to do a kid? Then again, if the plane crashes into the kid's home, it might be good to call them to tell them not to enter, but hopefully the giant flames will be enough of a warning. That is.. assuming you can get a call through with all of the extra traffic...

JMH

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:47:01 -0500

Use a fucking payphone if you really need to stay in touch. It's not that complicated.You should only bring a cellphone to school if you have enough handsets to give one to every person in the class.Heh.

Rfive

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:46:23 -0500

what ban? http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/nyregion/02cellphones.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Dave Hogarty

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:32:00 -0500

You should only bring a cellphone to school if you have enough handsets to give one to every person in the class.

eyekantspel

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:30:37 -0500

good!