This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Cell Phone Policy Rings Up Good Reviews

District 207 pilot program pleases students and parents as board examines results.

Allowing limited use of cell phones during the school day in Maine Township High School District 207 won generally positive reviews from students and parents.

On April 18, the district suspended its existing rules--which require cell phones to be turned off and stored out of sight at school--to test a new policy that the board would vote on before the next school year.

Results of the trial program were presented at the school board's June 7 meeting.

Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The evaluation period allowed each school principal to designate certain areas of the school where students would be allowed to use their cell phones as long as they did not violate the district’s rules for appropriate use of technology. It also allowed teachers the leeway to permission the use of the phones in classrooms or in the hallway for instructional purposes, such as calling a parent to drop off a forgotten assignment. Cell phones also could be used in emergencies.

However, use of cell phones remained prohibited in bathrooms, locker rooms and other areas where students would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The policy won good reviews, especially after Maine West High School was placed on “soft lockdown” after a reported gun incident in the neighborhood at dismissal time May 31. Students were prevented from leaving until the incident was resolved, said David Beery, communications director for District 207.

Many parents said they already rely on cell phone calls or text messages to know when their children need to be picked up, according to an online survey about the policy.

“Finally I am able to communicate with my child,” one parent wrote.

“With most families having both parents employed full time, cell phones may be the only way we can communicate with our children during the day should a schedule time change,” another parent wrote.

Indeed, nearly 70 percent of the students who responded to the online survey said their parents require them to carry cell phones at all times, even at school. Fifty-seven percent of the parents responded the same way.

Overall, 72 percent of parents rated the policy as fair and reasonable or very fair and reasonable. Seventy percent of the students agreed with that assessment.

Students would still be subject to discipline if they use cell phones inappropriately. That would include using the devices to cheat on tests or assignments, to bully others, to distribute banned material or to arrange for the distribution of drugs.

However, the high school principals reported no problems during the test period.

One teenager said online that the change did not have much effect on student behavior.

“Before the pilot [policy], students used their phones all the time, but they were more discreet so they wouldn’t get caught,” the student wrote.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?