Cell Phones and School

[kybearfuzz]

Today I went to lunch solo. It happens on occasion when everyone else is out. I bought a newspaper and watched a painful Showcase Showdown at Skyline. I hate to say it, but Drew Carey isn't doing well on "The Price is Right." He has no energy, everything he comments on is flat, even when reading the cost of the showcase. I feel he lacks the showmanship that Bob was famous for, but I digress...

I read an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer about the local ACLU being concerned that a local high school is reading the text messages from cell phones confiscated from students during class. The ACLU claims this violates the students' First Amendment rights, the school says that they are not reading the messages except in rare occasions when something shady seems to be going on.

The First Amendment excuse wouldn't have flown back in the day of passing notes between students in class, so I question whether this form of communication is any different. Any thoughts?

Comments

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I agree that it is an invasion of the student's privacy to do so. I certainly don't have a problem with the school confiscating the cell phones when the school has a no cell phone policy in class.

I guess I am surprised that it has gotten so far with the ACLU to take up the cause. If I found out my child was texting or receiving texts in class, I'd have more issues with him or her than the teachers. If I found the school was reading them, I'd probably use that as a lesson to my kid that he/she should not be using the cell phone at school.

It can get complicated I guess.