According to the 2005-2006 Curtis High School Student Handbook, an accepted strategy to effect the district goals includes the need to “develop a plan for ongoing implementation of technologies” (page 6). With this, the school should fully support the implementation of cell phones on the campus of Curtis High School, changing the current policies and rules to support the era of times society is adapting towards. According to the Student Handbook, the current cell phone policy at Curtis is as follows: “Cell phones must be turned off and put away upon entering the campus. Emergency calls to students from parent/others should be made through the main office. Personal student calls can be made on the school pay phones during the lunch period. Cell phones cause a disruption to the educational process and will be confiscated by staff and turned over to the appropriate administrator. Parents may then pick them up from the administration.” (page 15). Recently a verbal rule was created requiring all staff to confiscate all cell phones seen and submit them to the office or appropriate administrator. The office is required to hold custody of the item for one full week or until a parent personally picks up the phone from the school office between 7:00am and 3:30pm. It is the belief of all those petitioning that the newly placed rule is too harsh. The purpose of the “Curtis Senior High School Cell Phone Policy Revision Request” is to civilly demand a compromise between opposing viewpoints on this struggling issue.

Cell phone use should not be permitted within the classroom as it does disrupt learning and poses a possible threat to cheating. However, all cell phone usage within the high school should not be banned. For example, during student time such as passing period and lunch, cell phones should be permitted. High school is the final step before reaching the theoretical ‘real world’, so the rules and consequences should simulate that of what is expected in the future. In the work world, personal breaks are considered personal time, where phone calls are allowed to be made. Students are not expected to be learning while changing classes and eating their lunch, so the question stands; where is the threat to learning if students are permitted to use their cell phones during this time?

It is made well aware that students have access to pay phones during their lunch period and that parents are expected to make emergency phone calls through the office, yet at the same time students question the logic and practicality of these expectations. When parents pay monthly fees, good money to ensure that their child has the ability to make phone calls freely, why then would a pay phone be at all necessary or desired for the majority of students? In addition, many parents have provided their children with cell phones for the mere purpose of direct access during an emergency, is that not more efficient and purposeful than the hassles of going through an office administration to reach their child? I would also like to pose the question, would administrators themselves not be more inclined to reach and dial on their cell phones if presented with an emergency situation while working? Consider the thought and then ask why it is that high school students so near to the ‘real world’ are being treated so differently?

In addition, it should not be allowed within a school’s jurisdiction to confiscate a personal belonging such as this. With its financial value and level of importance to daily routines, it is almost as ridiculous as the thought of suspending the student who does not attend school. Is the school willing to be held responsible if the cell phone is lost or stolen after confiscation?

The current cell phone policy of confiscation for a week unless a parent personally retrieves the item from the school administration is too harsh. The school should implement an alternative punishment. Instead of crippling the students’ ability to keep in touch with family, employers and mentors by phone, the school should prescribe a fine or detention system. Similar to the punishment of parking in an unauthorized area on campus, students would receive tickets for abusing their privileges of cell phone usage. With this, the punishment would still get the same point across without disabling them from the ability to connect to important aspects of their lives outside of school.

Despite the views of those most highly affected, the student body, all must question the coordination of views and rule abiding by the school faculty. While the majority of teachers own personal cell phones themselves, should they too be expected to lead in the example of appropriate cell phone use during school hours on campus? Several teachers would agree that the cell phone policy and punishment is too harsh as it is illogical in its adverse effects. Additionally, several teachers and faculty members have voiced their discomfort in the expectation to take students’ cell phones away. Could the lack of joint views be a clue hinting the need for a change in policy?

When you take away a student’s cell phone, you are taking away more than just a social tool. It is a way of connection most often implemented by parents in order for contact in emergencies, schedule coordination, security of whereabouts and general day to day usage for work and family. The use of cell phones should be permitted during passing period and lunch, similar to the rules of the ‘real world’. Consequences to abusing the privilege should also be revised, eliminating confiscation and enforcing detention or fines instead. The hope of this petition is to ensure that suggestions may be promptly considered in a revision of the cell phone policy at Curtis Senior High School.

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