Norview senior works to change school's cell phone policy

allow kids to use the phones in the office, put in pay phones, or let them carry a cell phone. It's that simple. Three times in the last month a bus driver has not shown up to pick up kids at our school. Kids either had to wait 1 1/2 hours for another bus to complete its route, or call someone. These kids are not allowed to use the school phones. (that in itself seems to be just plain wrong to me) Rules are simple. Rule one, Turn it off when the bell rings for the first period. If your phone rings during school hours, or it is found to be on, you just lost your priveledge to carry one, period. Too bad, so sad. But for those who only use it to get a ride at the end of the day and do not abuse it, why not allow them the opportunity. Rule two, no camera phones. Carry a camera phone in, kiss it goodbye. (the school should be able to confiscate it and donate it to a domestic violence shelter)

Jenena, great job! My daughter is a rising 6th grader and has had a cell-phone for a few years now due to unaccompanied flights to visit her Dad (as far away as Hawaii) so I know the second she lands and that she's safe. She will now be walking to a Norfolk public school before & after. It's not a far walk, but far enough that if someone were following her that she didn't recognize, she could call 911. How many flashing pervs do we see all around town? Read the archives. Will she have it on during the day? Absolutely not. So funny that someone says school staff can assist in an emergency. Yeah, if the school staff isn't shot & killed first which is the norm w/these random acts of violence. Rules or no rules, some are meant to be broken. When I graduated, none of us had cells. Of course not. Times & technology change. We are a post 9/11 world now and there's always "what if". Well, what if with your own children, mine will always have a way to call 911 no matter where she is.

schools have enough distractions. The staff has enough
problems to deal with, and Yes the phones will be misused.
Leave the phones at home!!!

As a school counselor and an advocate for students, I would like to commend Ms. Ferguson for a eloquent, mature, well-argued and respectfully-submitted letter. I was also extremely impressed that she followed through on her proposal by serving on the advisory group and working to find a resolution that was acceptable to both parties. Cell phones have become a part of our everyday world, and with the carefully thought-out stipulations Ms. Ferguson suggested, I see no reason that high school students should be prohibited from carrying their phones. Congratulations on not merely being one who complains, but one who takes appropriate action, Jenena!

I have to agree with Julie, how did the multitudes of millions of us before this generation ever get through school without cell phones, MP3 players, etc.? Just another example of the self-important generation thinking that the world is waiting for and to talk to them. They all to get over themselves in a big hurry, cause life is coming at 'em and it doesn't care!

These days with all of the school shooting's etc., cell phone can and have been crucial by notifying emergency authorities. Think about how many victims were calling from the classrooms from Va. Tech. I know most classrooms already have phone's, but you never know when a perp. is gonna rip the cord. out of the wall. That being said, things are different today. Some kids are being picked up be other people and perhaps they could be late. Is the child supposed to walk the 12 minutes (a norfolk school) back into school to get to the corner that she stands on in Norfolk to use the pay/office phone and miss her late ride if they do come or continue to wait in vain & unsafe for 30 minutes when she could call her Mother who may have a message for her that such and such was in a accident. Why take the risk these days of leaving our children unsafe when we can make something so simple. As far as at school, make strict rules, 1st time warning, 2nd time lose it. Plain and simple. Think smart

although it seems that the school officials have thought thoroughly about this, i completely disagree w/ phones in school. my niece was given a phone and a camera and she took them both to school and she has abused them both. i understand my niece is not every child. however, especially in the middle school age range, i really dont feel it is necessary. many children and adults both argue that this way they can find their child. why is your child going that far away in the 6th grade that you cannot find them. cell phones give them greater access to the world and to people who are not following the rules laid out before them. in cases of emergency, the school office is available. in cases of work, the child is in school and that should take precedence over work every single time. i also understand the argument that this is a different society, but maybe, the easier access to the world is part of the change and danger of this society.

I use to have to stay after school for band and sports, and I didn't always have a quarter for that pay phone. I use to call collect and hang up, that was the clue that I was ready to be picked up. Today, you have guns in schools, fights and lock downs. Something has to give. I would rather hear my childs voice calling me than wondering if or when they may be pulling them out the building dead or alive.

I used to think that cell phones should not be allowed in school. I still think that. However, I have found that my middle school student is not able to call me when he has activities after school. There are no longer pay phones in his Chesapeake school and the offices are locked and off limits. So, he either has to borrow another students cell phone or use his own to call home for a ride. I hate the fact that my 13 year old needs a cell phone because of after school activities. It is the only reason he has a cell phone and the only time he uses it. Please put pay phones back in the school.

I don't see why kids (yes, anyone under 18 I'm referring to as a kid) need a cell phone in school. The excuse that they need it for emergencies to stay in touch with parents/employers is not a good one. I'm guessing that before cell phones kids were never able to get ahold of parents while at school or vice versa, right? I sorta remember this place called the office, where phone calls were directed and often a message taken and sent to the student. If it were an emergency, they'd let you call home as well, usually it was the nurse calling home.

Then, there are pay phones. If, I missed the bus, then I had to find a pay phone.

I worked during school from my sophmore spring semester and on, and I don't remember them ever needing to call me and if they needed to, they could call my parent's home phone, and if I wasn't there, a message was left.

Keep the phones at home, or if you drive, keep them in the car. Simple as that.

You have got to be kidding! It should be cut and dry, absolutely no cell phones. If they have an emergency, staff is available to assist. Take control of the schools and teach, without the distraction of texting and emailing. Schools should definetly be a phone free environment!