School lesson No. 1: Turn off the cell phones
There’s a time and place for everything -- and that includes
cellular phones.
Cell phones should not be used while watching a movie, attending
church, looking for a book at the library or book store and sitting
in classrooms. Such devices -- when on -- simply don’t belong in the
classroom.
Seems like common sense, right?
While we believe cell phones have no place on school grounds, it
would probably be difficult to ban their existence entirely. So, it
is not unreasonable for school officials to insist that during the
school day, cell phones should be off and safely stowed away.
Educators have their hands full enough in teaching tomorrow’s
future -- they don’t need yet another distraction or obstacle.
As we said, it’s common sense and Newport-Mesa school trustees
should use it when deciding how they want to deal with the handy
devices now that the state has placed the decision in their hands.
We understand how convenient the phones are. There are few without
them these days.
But there exists no real need for the phones to be used during
school hours. If parents need to get ahold of their children, they
should do so as it always has been done: call the school’s office and
have them pass a note.
There’s nothing wrong with that system, but there is something
wrong when phones interrupt classroom discussions.
In the off-chance a dire school-wide emergency arises, the schools
should then make the rare exception in allowing the students use of
their phones. In that case, the devices can indeed prove useful in
contacting families or finding help.
But school trustees must set a firm rule immediately that the cell
phones need to remain in the off position during school hours.
Conversations should be limited to the campus as they always have
been.
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