WHILE I BREATHE

I made it through 12 years of public school, went to cheerleading and band practice and was never left standing by the highway or outside the football stadium.  It has been quite a while since I was in school, but perhaps we weren’t as needy.  Old times also required parents to be more responsible.

Though never a fan of cell phones in schools, I have softened on the issue though and think there may be reasons children need a cell phone, just not during class time.   I really thought that was all worked out in the districts and teachers were taking phones before class and the kids get them back after.  Are they going to pat students down and search for a phone?  (THAT’S a harassment lawsuit in waiting!)  I can’t visualize the school office collecting phones as kids enter school and then dispersing them when the bell rings?  Kids are rushing to buses or to the parking lots but first they have to stop by and checkout their phone? 

This is a terrible idea, and I think implementing it will be a nightmare.  I’ve heard the argument about a student taking another student’s phone from the Teachers Room while it’s in the “shoe pouch” or whatever they use.  Most kids have their own cell phone, and they will want their own, but what will be the difference in keeping them in the office ? Will each school be required to hire a cell phone monitor?

What if school is dismissed early or practice is cancelled?  What about school shootings?  Lord forbid that be an issue, but parents would want to know their child is safe.  It won’t be possible for a school to send out a text blast and give the status of each individual in the building.

Parents also need to take some responsibility and stop calling their kids for no reason during the school day.  I’ve talked with teachers who say parents are the worst offenders.

I think for a State that hates so many rules and loves freedom we are becoming a little too controlling about this as we are on so many other things.  Children need to learn undistracted by cell phones, social media and whatever is next, but we still need to be realistic. 

More to come……