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

[cincycub.livejournal.com]

From what I read it seemed to have been blown out of proportion, but who knows nowadays. Kids are liars, schools are scaredy-cats, and media coverage is like a tennis match ;)

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Every now and then I see my old teachers and they tell me that things are much different than they were when we were in high school.

I think schools are more cautious about taking actions against students for fear of being sued, yet they understand that they are responsible for the kids' well-being while they are in school. It's a catch-22 of sorts.

I tend to put the blame largely on some parents who are missing the opportunity to teach the kids responsibility about the privilege of having their own cell. The article says it doesn't happen often (the taking of the cell), so it makes me think it's a small number of students.