Students, parents disagree on cell phone policy

COLUMBUS, Ga. - Students and parents are divided over a new policy in the Muscogee County School District that allows school officials to take away cell phones if a student is texting in class.

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported Sunday that parents mostly love the idea adopted earlier this summer, saying cell phones are a distraction. But some students say they might need their phones in an emergency, one calling the policy "stupid."

School officials say the policy was adopted to stop students from text messaging during classes, and parent Robin Sanders agrees.

"I think it's a good idea," she said while waiting in the front office of Shaw High School to register her daughter, Kennedy Burt, who, with a cell phone in hand, said she disagrees.

Under the new policy, students caught using a cell phone in school for the first time would have it held by the principal for three school days. Parents would be able to pick up the phone at the close of the third school day.

The penalties escalate for each time students are caught, including suspensions and holding the phone for longer periods. After a fourth offense, the student would be suspended out of school for two days for each instance, and the parent would be able to pick up the phone at the end of the school day.

Middle and high school students will be able to use their phones before and after school. Elementary students are not allowed to have them.

Students will get a copy of the new policy when they return to school on Thursday, and it will go into effect Aug. 20.

Gail Johnson, who has a son at Carver High School, said she works with a lot of high school students at a Krystal restaurant and said young employees using cell phones and texting during work is a problem, too.

Larry Marshall, the PTSA president at Carver, said he also supported the new policy.

"Anything to keep children from being distracted," Marshall said. His daughter, Brianna Marshall, a sophomore at Carver High, agreed.

"I think it's a good idea. People will use their phones to cheat on tests," she said.

Other students didn't like the new rules.

"I think it's stupid," said Jacob Elkins, a senior at Shaw High School. "In case of an emergency, you have to use it."