http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/ 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. Thu, 2 Feb 2006 03:0:29 CST en-us 3 http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig4390036 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I support this petition. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig4316081 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I support this petition. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig4150834 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST yes, we should be allowed to use our cellphones in school, because if our parents have cellphones, the schools may not have their numbers. AMEN!! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3964621 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3829326 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST Great petition, i definately support this! I am President of the Student Body at George McDougall H.S. up in Canada and the cabinet and I, for the most part, am putting together a sort of presentation to convince the staff to allow this change. Policy is almost identical as in this case. It's a great step forward in school policy as it would reflect the changes in societies technological era. Nice job! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3679899 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST good=] http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3607234 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST piss on my tits! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3150836 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I totally agree~! Emergency cases, HELLO!?! But, also for friendly calls, also. =D http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3147996 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST i have a cellphone.! call me.! i`m lonely. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3122879 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3112117 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST THIS IS BULL-SHIT LET US USE OUR PHONES.. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3084987 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST It is very important to let students have freedom with what they do... it will ready them for the real world ahead! This contriversy is one thought of by many people, but no one ever thinks to do anything! I say everyone who has signed this potition to band together, and make a rally to promote the use of cells in high schools halways!!!! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3084988 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST It is very important to let students have freedom with what they do... it will ready them for the real world ahead! This contriversy is one thought of by many people, but no one ever thinks to do anything! I say everyone who has signed this potition to band together, and make a rally to promote the use of cells in high schools halways!!!! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3083812 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST i think we should use them if we want because we can learn when we want its our future not urs dumbasses http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3068934 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST Cell phones are necessary to students and the idea of them being banned is crazy. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3046411 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST AGREED? http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3033554 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I agree with every word of that...even if our phone accidentally falls out of our bag...they confiscate it...and say they can keep it for days at a time...Well to be honest...they have to look at the facts. If the household doesn't have a home phone and just cell phones for communication... they're taking away a sense of security. What if the parents were to be gone for the weekend and they were left there alone and something happened because they didn't have a phone...is the school going to pay for it? Nope...they're not...And the school doesn't pay for the phone anyways so they don't have the authority to take it from you. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3003789 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST ;lkjfa;flksjf aj;dlfkjad;fljk a;afdja;fdlksjf afjdlf;adfkj afdl'akfj;asldfk http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig3000370 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/chscellphonepolicy/#sig2998764 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I THINK THIS IS BULLSHIT!