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It used to be called "passing notes", and not only did the teacher read them, if it was juicy enough, the entire class would hear them.

Somehow, we all survived that particular "invasion of privacy." Less emphasis on perceived rights and a little more on responsibilities would go a long way.

HAHA! I remember back in the day when one of my teachers read a note that these girls were passing back and forth. Funny Crap! Same idea though but I would have to agree to some point that it also could contain other things from days past that did not happen at school. So kinda like having a phone log of all conversations over the last couple days.
 
I checked my school's handbook to see what the policy is, and it says that the Dean may search the device. The official procedure for getting caught with a phone is usually that the teacher takes it, puts it in the Dean's office, and you have to pay $5 to get it back no questions asked. However, VERY few teachers follow any of the mumbo-jumbo in the handbooks at all, and most teachers allow us to use our phones and/or iPods when appropriate (before/after school, lunch, busywork/seatwork in class) except for the counselors.

As for the "them meddling kids these days don't need phones" arguement, phones and other electronic devices do have their advantages. For one, texting is less distracting than notes being flown across the classroom. Also, as I said above, many of my teachers actually encourage us to listen to music during or after doing busywork, since it actually keeps students quieter. Plus, with the final goodbye text messages sent by Emily Keyes to her family at the Platte Canyon High School shooting, a local high school, (and not to mention Columbine), they are very important in emergencies.
 
I find it amazing how some schools actually allow that sort of thing. Our school handbook states

"Cell Phones, video games, radios and MP3 Players are to be kept off and in your locker during school hours. They may not be used on the premises at any time, including before and after school. If a student is found using one of those devices, it is to be taken up and be put in the office until after school, where the student may pay a fee to get it back. If the student is caught using the device again, they may pay a higher fee to get it back. If it is taken up again, it is to be kept permenantly by the office, and the student will not get it back."

And it's been known that teachers are allows to look through cell phones, so almost no one tries to do that kind of thing here.
 
I think teachers are allowed to read SMS messages on your mobile, but whether or not I think it's right is a different matter. I think they're allowed to do this, but I personally do not believe it's any of their business what message you send to your friends, family, etc.
 
There should be no reason a teacher would need to read the messages unless the situation warrants it (violence).

I agree about how high school is restrictive, especially for those of us who act right and never get in trouble.

For instance, in February, for my last period Spanish class my fudgeup of a teacher let us walk on the track. I texted my (then) girlfriend and she got caught. Her teacher CALLS me, to my iphone, and he tells me to go to his classroom. Of course I couldn't! So I stayed down at the track. Then he sends her to get me, but my teacher sends her back. Fast forward 5 minutes, and he comes to get me and my phone. He goes into the office and comes back, gives me my phone, and says something cocky about having an iPhone. He must have had nothing better to do. And my Spanish teacher always gets people in trouble if they have their hands in there pocket or have a purse on their desk.. At least she's getting fired.

Absolute insanity.
 
It used to be called "passing notes", and not only did the teacher read them, if it was juicy enough, the entire class would hear them.

Somehow, we all survived that particular "invasion of privacy." Less emphasis on perceived rights and a little more on responsibilities would go a long way.

That made me smile.

However, little shocked to see that schools are allowed to charge you to get your ipod, phone etc back.
 
I love my former psychology professor's policy regarding cell phones in class....if your cell phone rings, and it's not on vibrate, he'll answer it and have a conversation with the other person in front of the class. It did happen once, and it was quite entertaining for everyone (except the girl who's phone rang) :D
 
I don't think teachers should read texts. If I were a teacher and I confiscated a phone, I wouldn't read through the texts. Well, at least while they are in the room :D

I love my former psychology professor's policy regarding cell phones in class....if your cell phone rings, and it's not on vibrate, he'll answer it and have a conversation with the other person in front of the class. It did happen once, and it was quite entertaining for everyone (except the girl who's phone rang) :D

Haha that is genius! I would have loved to see that one.
 
It used to be called "passing notes", and not only did the teacher read them, if it was juicy enough, the entire class would hear them.

Somehow, we all survived that particular "invasion of privacy." Less emphasis on perceived rights and a little more on responsibilities would go a long way.

Not really, I know my phone contains some far far more personal stuff than any 'note passing' I've ever done.
 
Other than possibly illegal activity, who do, and why should, teachers care what the subject of the text messages, phone calls, etc. are of a teenager?
 
You could call it willingly if the individual places the device in the teacher's hand on request. If the individual refuses and then promptly leaves the premises then that individual is no longer under the rules or policy of the establishment.

Certainly not. During school hours students are in the legal control of the school. You don't have the permission to leave whenever you want.
But if I were to say decline a teacher's request and then leave there is nothing the school could do besides kick me out.

Hmmm....Expulsion vs. a replaceable phone...

decisions, decisions.
That has to be state law or school policy that was agreed upon between the institution and the student before enrollment. I haven't heard of that here.
Students don't have to agree to anything. If it's a school policy, it's a school policy. Schools don't have to have your consent to enforce dress codes, sexual harassment policy, or the infamous, "no gum in school" rule.

By enrolling (or rather, by being enrolled by your parents), students implicitly agree to the rules of the district and school.

In all cases involving student discretion, it isn't the student's opinion that matters, but rather the parents'. As your legal guardians they have the power to enter you into most contracts, especially ones involving public services.
Anyway, if you're concerned about your privacy, use passwords or encryption. Or don't bring your phone to school. ;)
Or they could just not text when the teacher's looking. :p

I find it funny how they do a lot of things in high school that they don't do in college.
High school deals with minors from the ages of 14 to 18.

College deals with only adults. The rules are different because the institutions are different.

There are a lot of things in college that aren't done in high school either.

As long as they aren't a disturbance. No one should care. And distraction my ass, there are plenty of distractions in life.
The very fact that you notice it means that your attention is divided, even if only partially. This means that it is preventing you from learning as well as you could.
In college half the class is on their phone and you have to pay attention.

You don't "have to" do anything in college. You can flunk out with a 1.0 in your first semester or graduate Summa Cum Laude. The choice is yours.
 
Our school's handbook says we're not allowed to have them but it's not that huge of a deal. If you're caught during class (which is much easier in some classes than others) you have to give the phone to your teacher and you can get it back at the end of the day. And, the only time you can't use your phone is during school hours. Before homeroom and after last period is fine for any electronic device. Some teachers will accept $5 as a no-questions-asked-I-didn't-see-it kinda thing. After you've been caught multiple times, you have to see our Vice Principal for Student Affairs who will yell at you, give you lunch detention, and have your parents come and get your phone. Oh, and some teachers just have fun with the whole thing. One sophomore teacher whom I'll have next year will take your phone and start calling random people in your address book that go to the school to see if they pick up during class.
 
One sophomore teacher whom I'll have next year will take your phone and start calling random people in your address book that go to the school to see if they pick up during class.

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The official procedure for getting caught with a phone is usually that the teacher takes it, puts it in the Dean's office, and you have to pay $5 to get it back no questions asked.

Isn't that just a tad bit too much like extortion? I was aware that certain teachers and school officials were corrupted, but forcing students to pay to receive their parents' property back? Honestly, give me a break. No wonder why the country's education system is beyond repair.
 
At my school they clearly states that cell phones are allowed but they must be turned off and concealed. Do people follow those rules... no. Most teachers at my school if they see/hear someone's cell phone they just say put it away because most of them have had their cell phone go off in class.

It's in the handbook that they can confiscate your cell phone and by going to the school you are agreeing to those terms. Looking at the information within the cell phone I don't think is right, however, I would bet if they suspect you were helping someone cheat/getting help to cheat they would look through your text messages/emails/IMs.
 
Yea zioxide,

I find it funny how they do a lot of things in high school that they don't do in college. High school is like pre-school compared to college. Not that I use my phone in class or anything (I keep it on me because we have an issue with theft at my school and my mother likes to keep tabs on me after school), but I don't care if someone takes out their phone in class and starts to text or something. As long as they aren't a disturbance. No one should care. And distraction my ass, there are plenty of distractions in life. In college half the class is on their phone and you have to pay attention.

I can't believe I'm still putting up with high school but I go to a school where their biggest worries are us walking around with black sneakers and not black shoes. It's not such a big deal for the seniors, but every now and then they tend to make a big deal about it.


That's because the high schools are responsible for minors. In college, you're supposedly adults, so no one cares what you do because you are legally responsible for your self.
 
For one, texting is less distracting than notes being flown across the classroom.

Why does a student, in high school or lower, need to be passing notes or texting?


Plus, with the final goodbye text messages sent by Emily Keyes to her family at the Platte Canyon High School shooting, a local high school, (and not to mention Columbine), they are very important in emergencies.

How many High School/Middle School shootings are there? Really? I'm not saying they don't happen. But what are the odds that it will happen at your school. I'm sorry but you are going to have far more problems arise from letting kids have them, even if they aren't supposed to used them, than you will have "last goodbyes" from kids to their parents.

And I know all about school shootings. I went to Whitman Middle School in Seattle where one of my teachers was shot in the back on his way into school one morning. I then when to Ballard High School in Seattle where one student was shot and killed and another injured in a gang-related drive-by shooting. I still don't believe students should have phones in school.
 
Anything that is with you while you are on school property, the teachers have the right to go thru it.

(that's one of the reasons why I always had my phone set up so when I closed it, it would lock so no one could access it)
 
I was assuming they lacked the skills for this, as if they did not, this thread would not have existed in the first place. :p

:p

Touché.

*Old man voice*

Back in my day we knew how to text when the teacher wasn't looking!

Mind you we walked barefoot in the snow uphill both ways. :p
 
Why does a student, in high school or lower, need to be passing notes or texting?
I think the point was, it less annoying.....but I use my phone all the time for "good" reasons. I text people about setting up bake sales, class meetings what homework we need, etc. I'm not saying everyone does, but you can use phones for useful reasons in school. I've written papers/ paragraphs on my iPhone, look up information.....phones are powerful tools, which can be used for learning, as well as play.

How many High School/Middle School shootings are there? Really? I'm not saying they don't happen. But what are the odds that it will happen at your school. I'm sorry but you are going to have far more problems arise from letting kids have them, even if they aren't supposed to used them, than you will have "last goodbyes" from kids to their parents..

Well, if it lets one kid(which it will allow more then one) say good bye to his/her parents, then I'm for it. But not only for shooting cases, but for snow storms, or if something happens to a parent, and a kid needs to be informed quickly, etc...it allows kids to get information faster.


And I know all about school shootings. I went to Whitman Middle School in Seattle where one of my teachers was shot in the back on his way into school one morning. I then when to Ballard High School in Seattle where one student was shot and killed and another injured in a gang-related drive-by shooting. I still don't believe students should have phones in school.
I'm sorry those things happened at your school, but that add nothing to your points. I don't care if that stuff happened at your school, your thoughts on the matter aren't suddenly more important then other's.
 
In my school, teachers don't usually take away cell phones, unless it rings and you answer it right in middle of the class when they're talking. If it rings they just give you the look that says "turn it off". Some strict/grouchy ones might take it away until the end of class.
While cell phone to me may not be all that useful in school, it is quite useful when you're out and about after school. Provides your parents a way to reach you, and know if you're not going to be there for dinner. I don't think it's unnecessary for high school students to have cell phones, just turn it on vibrate and use it when the teacher leaves the room. Sometimes when I get a call in class, I just ask to go to the washroom and call back there :D.
 
Actually, on a school campus teachers and adminstrators do have more authority than cops. For example, teachers have the legal authority to search a student's car or backpack but police generally stay away from such situations unless they have a search warrant.

It's also not true that it would be considered stealing; teachers have the right to seize any device that interferes with the best interests of students. Plus, the teacher has the right to read the student's cell phone if he/she feels it could contain vital information related to the safety of their students.
Wow. Sounds like Nazi Germany. Is there anything a Teacher *can't* do down there? :)

Just for perspective... remember that most of these examples and replies only apply to the wonderful land called USA.

Where I live for example (Canada), no way does a teacher have the right to do most of the things you mention. The police also don't have the right to just show up at school and randomly search lockers for drugs and guns like they do down there, either.

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