L et the debate begin — and we say that in a way that is meant to foster public discourse on an issue that must be dealt with: cell phones in schools.
On July 28, the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education introduced a policy that will prohibit students from keeping cell phones on their person during the academic day. Students will be required to keep their cell phones in their locker.
The proposed policy will have a public hearing and vote for adoption by the board at an upcoming meeting. There is an article about the proposed policy in today’s paper. District administrators have clearly placed this proposal before the public.
FRHSD Superintendent of Schools James Wasser has recently described cell phones as one of the most vexing problems that teachers and administrators have had to deal with in recent years.
There are a litany of issues connected with the students’ possession of cell phones in school, including a loss of class time when someone’s phone rings and the teacher has to handle the situation; incidents of students cheating on tests by using camera phones; drug deals being arranged by students through the use of text messaging; and situations involving pornography, harassment and bullying.
In a recent conversation with Greater Media Newspapers, Wasser said he knows he cannot prohibit students from bringing cell phones to school, and said he does not want to take time away from instruction by having teachers collect cell phones at the beginning of class and handing them back to students at the end of the period.
The superintendent made it clear in that conversation that the students’ use of cell phones to set up drug deals is a real and very serious situation in the regional district.
A student’s ability to carry a cell phone is an issue that resonates with teenagers and parents. Through letters to newspapers, in calls and e-mail to the Freehold Regional High School District, via contact with the nine board members who represent the eight constituent towns, and in comments made at the board’s public meetings, this is the time for people to make their opinions known on this matter.
Residents should not wait until the board adopts this policy — if it adopts this policy — and then say they did not know about it. The proposed policy is now in the public domain.
A school policy should be shaped in part by the desires of the community the school district serves. A policy need not be handed down like the word of God.
Now is the appropriate time for interested parties to help shape FRHSD policy on an issue that is causing stress in schools and consternation to teachers and administrators.