Court upholds cellphone ban

[HudsonHawk]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ne...,3606873.story

Appeals court upholds NYC school cell phone ban

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
2:11 PM EDT, April 22, 2008

A ban on cell phones in the nation's largest school system was upheld Tuesday by a state appeals court.

The Department of Education passed rules in September 2005 barring students from having their phones in public schools.

School officials, as well as Mayor Michael Bloomberg, have called the phones a distraction and say they could be used for nefarious purposes, including cheating.

Parents insist they need to stay in touch with their children in case of emergencies like Sept. 11. They call the ban irrational and unsafe and say it intrudes on their right to determine what is best for their children.

City lawyers argued that education officials had the right to make policy decisions -- "the kind government officials make all the time" -- about devices students may have at school.

The state Supreme Court's Appellate Division agreed. It said that nothing about the ban interferes with any of the rights claimed by the parents, nor does it prevent students and their parents from communicating before and after school.

"We are extremely disappointed," said Norman Siegel, lawyer for the parents and students. "We strongly believe the ban is unconstitutional and illegal, and we will not rest until the prohibition is reversed."

The ban came about as New York stepped up its scrutiny of what gets in and out of schools -- a policy aimed primarily at finding weapons. Along the way, schools confiscated thousands of cell phones. Students responded by sneaking phones inside their lunches and under their clothes, or paying neighborhood stores small fees to hold their phones during the day.

New York has more than 1,400 schools and 1.1 million students

[MacLean]

My child will carry or not carry a cell phone because *I* make the decision, not a school district.

Bloomberg the Incompetent should focus on making sure his police are paid, rather than going on odd (and often illegal) junkets against guns and cell phones.

[Cidp24]

I can see both sides. Yea, they can be a distraction etc but what value could you place on one student with a semi cool head and a cell phone in an active shooter situation? Heck, even if the student was freaking out it would still be better than no info from inside the school. On the other hand I quess you could count on teachers having cell phones in that situation.

[Motorwaycop]

Phones are banned from my sons school.

Although I have to say you'd never know it. I don't think it's a rule that is strictly enforced.
If the pupil is responsible enough to have it switched off and not flash it around at break times etc I don't think it is a problem and they are left alone.
However I can see how irresponsible use is a problem for the school.
This would appear to be a matter for the school and parents to resolve.
Phones are a fact of modern day life and a realistic and workable policy should be relatively easy to achieve.
The use of courts seems to be over the top.
But that's how it is now, everyone goes to court over the most insignificant thing, everything is a breach of human rights blah blah blah!
Work it out people and grow up.

[lewisipso]

Handle the kids that violate not the ones that don't.

[Just KC]

My son is allowed to carry his cell, as long as it is turned off during school hours and put away in his backpack. He turns it on the moment he steps off campus.....and always will.

I just recently took a call from a 13yr old that was hiding from a guy she just ran from who tried to kidnap her. Because she had her cell, we were able to find her (she had no idea where she was)........we caught the guy after getting a 2nd call of him trying to grab another female 10 minutes later.

[osugirlP103]

their was once upon a time when their were no cell phones i know where my child is so i think the rule is fine because all some students will do anyways is use the phone to cheat I would rather my child pass fairly and no they will be ok education wise in life rather to know they cheated and worry if they will make it through life

[Resident Smart Ass]

My child will carry or not carry a cell phone because *I* make the decision, not a school district.

Bloomberg the Incompetent should focus on making sure his police are paid, rather than going on odd (and often illegal) junkets against guns and cell phones.

+1

Bloomberg has been running NYC city like a business with a tight ass wallet..thank God I moved out of city before he became the Mayor!