Cell Phones in School?

Question

I am a parent who had to pay $15 to pick up my childs phone at school today because it was taken away by a teacher. I understand phones should not be used during school and it is a disruption during class but having to pay to get your own property back?? How is that legal? Granted my child should have had his phone off, but it was on vibrate and the teacher did not hear it. The child sitting next to mine made a big deal about it!! The only reason my child has a phone is because we live in a rural community out of the school district and our phone number is not a local number. The phone the kids are allowed to use does not make LD calls. The student handbook states that kids are not allowed to have pagers, CD players, camcorders, DVD players, cameras, electronic devices or games at school without permission. If taken up student will have to pay $15 to have item returned. Then it goes on to state....for safety purposes, they do allow cell phones but they must be turned off.

Word for Word.....Students ARE NOT PERMITTED TO POSSESS such items aspagers, radios, CD players, tape recorders, camcorders, DVD players, cameras, electronic devices or games at school, unless prior permission has been obtained from the principal. Without such permission, teachers will collect the items and turn them in to the principal's office. The principal will contact parents to pick up the items. A charge of $15.00 each time a student has a device taken away will be charged before item is returned.
For safety purposes, the district PERMITS STUDENTS TO POSSESS cell phones: however, cell phones must remain turned off and out of sight during instructional day, including during all testing.
It clearly states you have to pay for items that are NOT PERMITTED, but not for items that are permitted, but taken up!!!

I have a problem with having to pay for something that is permitted in school. Yes my child broke the rule by not having the phone off, but it did not state I would have to pay to get it back only for items not permitted. In my eyes it was breaking the rules and punishment was having to tell his parent and parent had to go to school to pick it up at office. Just like being sent to principals office for getting in trouble!! Hell if a parent had to pay everytime a child was sent to office for breaking rules the school system would have no need for tax $$$

Answer 1

hi
In my opinion, they should not be allowed.
Does anybody besides me remember when we actually went to school to learn things like Math, Science and English.
Of course we learned a few other concepts as well, like respect for authority, a dodge ball is a great way to take out aggression, and we never had anybody carrying guns into our schools.
I guess we've progressed since then, right ?

Answer 2

You seem to be saying that it's OK for YOUR child to have a phone since it was on vibrate and the teacher didn't hear it? The policy is clear on what is allowed and what is not and the fine is clearly stated in that policy. Where you live is irrelevant. Your child can turn on the phone when he/she leaves school. If you need to get a hold of your child during school hours you can do what every other parent can do, call the school. It seems the policy allows for exceptions since it clearly states "without permission." If your child needs a cell phone that can make or receive LD calls you should seek permission for your child to be allowed to posses such a phone. However the policy states that ALL phones should be turned off and you child had the phone taken during class and it was ON. Stop making excuses for your child and pay the fine. Your teaching your child that trying to skirt the rules is okay if you find them inconvenient.

Answer 3

Obviously the Administration and the School Board made this part of the student handbook. New rules that are added to the student handbook are discussed at board meetings before they are voted on by the board. If you don't agree with the rule you can always form a committee of parents to lobby the school board to change it.
That said, the phone should have been turned off. At the school I work in the kids put their cell phones in the pouch of their hoodies, sit in class and text one another. I answer the phones at school and mom says to me, "my son/daughter just text me that they needed this or that." I ask mom if she is aware that her child will now have his cell phone confiscated because someone hasn't read their child's student handbook. How much educational value is that child getting in class? Teachers catch kids texing or talking on their phone in every class every day. The phone is then turned into the office. I personally wish that we could charge the parent to get the phone back. Perhaps more rules would then be enforced at home.
The bottom line is, rules are rules. We may not like them but we have to follow them until we decide that we are going to do something to change them.

Answer 4

A rule is a rule! Why do you think your child is such a noble VIP that she doesn't have to follow the rules?
Did the rule say no cell phones on or only on vibrate? You can't say for sure that it wasn't bothering anyone because the child setting next to her heard it. So you are saying it is only ok if the teacher doesn't hear it or catch you.
If you don't make your child pay the $15 you are only teaching her that it's ok not to follow rules and that's a good way for a child to learn that they also don't have to follow laws when they get older. Cuz it would be ok to break a law as long as the police don't catch you.

Answer 5

I think you were taken advantage of. Where do schools get off punishing a parent for a bit of a school infraction? I would protest. Demand your money back! Write a letter to the editor of your local paper and see if you can get other parents squalling about this.

Public schools should not be in the business of thievery, and I'm sick of struggling parents getting the blame for every little thing a kid does. Let the school penalize the kid directly, with detention or something similar. If a parent punishes a kid, she's likely to get accused of abuse. So now we have to pay out, over a little infraction where nobody was hurt?

Answer 6

Yours is the second post I have seen about a monetary fine for cellphones in school. I would have a problem with that. Your child broke the school rules though, so if it is a written rule, you pay up or lose the phone.

Answer 7

Was the phone turned off? Point this out to the PRINCIPAL at the school, and the teacher can be disciplined for their incorrect behaviors. Only the principal or school administrator can properly administer penalties against a faculty member.

Answer 8

Only $15?

My cellphone rang in court a few weeks ago and I had to pay a $150 sanction to get it back.

School rules are school rules. It's perfectly legal.

Richard

Answer 9

Uh... did you read the last line of your own rant? "...they do allow cell phones but they must be turned off." Your child violated the rules... off means *OFF*...not set to vibrate. Pay the $15 and discipline your child for disobeying the rules.

Answer 10

I don't think they should have the right to do that. The phone was on vibrate, so it's not like it was making noise and disrupting the class!! The handbook stated that cell phones are allowed, therefore, I think you should go and get your money back. Tell the kid that sits next to yours to grow up and get a life!!