What did we do before cell phones? Personally, my cell phone and Blackberry has become my lifeline to the world. Seemingly I’m always checking it for messages – phone, emails and texts. In fact, a few years ago I would have laughed at the idea that I would “text” anyone – after all, texting was for teenagers.
Surprisingly, I have found texting a highly effective way to send a quick message or contact staff members, Board trustees, parents, and of course, family and friends. I am a Blackberry addict. What did I do before cell phones?
Clearly, I’m not alone with my addiction. Wherever you go people preciously guard and hold onto their phones like it’s the secret KFC recipe. Walking, driving, stores, beaches, and schools. Schools. Unfortunately, our students are also addicted to their cell phones. In truth, their addictions seem to be worse than my own. This addiction has impacted the school in many ways — not positive ones. Cell phones in our schools interrupt classes and instruction. Cell phones in our schools distract students. Cell phones in our schools have been used to cheat. Cell phones in our schools have been used for bullying.
Last year the high school had 202 disciplinary referrals for cell phone issues in the school. One hundred ninety-six of these incidents occurred in a classroom. Typically, our staff handles the large majority of these issues themselves. By and large, these cell phone referrals are reported because they were significant distractions to the teaching-learning process. In reality, the issue is 3x greater than reported.
The misuse of cell phones in schools is not an Island Trees issue, but a national one. In response to these interruptions, distractions and issues in our high school, Island Trees will have a new restricted use policy in September.
For the 2011-12 school year, cell phones will be “banned” from Island Trees High School during school hours. This means they cannot be seen and/or heard from the time the students walk into school to the end of the day. Any cell phones seen/heard during the school day will be confiscated. Mr. Grande, Island Trees High School principal, will share the details in a letter to parents in August.
In essence, the high school does not want to see and/or hear any cell phone during the school day – 1st offense – returned at the end of the school day. Second offense – parents/guardian to pickup cell phone after-school hours; 3rd offense – additional disciplinarily consequences.
Naturally, cell phones have been an extremely helpful tool for parent-child communication. What did we do before cell phones? If parents expect to get in touch with their child during schools hours, they will need to go through the school office or wait until the end of the school day for messages to be retrieved.
We understand this will be an adjustment for students, as well as parents. Of course, we’ll need our parents to support us in order to enhance the instructional environment at Island Trees High School. We thank you in advance for your continued support of our school policies.
