Cell Phones

[Michelle Celio]

Are you looking for responses from High Schoolers only or College Students as well?

In High School, your phone was allowed to be on and you were allowed to use it in between classes and at lunch.

Here at Florida Tech, I guess its fair game. Some professors don't let you use them, but most of them don't care unless they cause a classroom disturbance

[Molten]

I voted according to the high school I used to go to.

As far as my college goes, phones are allowed. It is expected that you don't use them in class. I have had a teacher that would dock your grade if your phone goes off during someone's speech. I have also had one that doesn't mind if it goes off, his rule is that he gets to answer the phone.

[Coach Norm]

The school I teach allows students to have cell phones. Students are not to use them during class but we have many that do. If you are using it during class, a teacher has the right to take it away until the end of the period. The second time it goes to the administration office and stays there until the end of the day. The third time, your parent has to come pick it up from the administration office.

Some teachers even students use them in class. I allow students to use it as a calculator if they do not have one otherwise.

We have a math teacher who has the students use text messaging in class. Another teacher used camera phones in class to help teach some concepts.

I am looking at some software that allows people to vote via cell phones during a presentation.

We used the program JOTT team to communicate with each other this year as well.

[vivek16]

Originally Posted by Molten

I have also had one that doesn't mind if it goes off, his rule is that he gets to answer the phone.

Hah! That is hilarious. At our school, it is allowed during passing time and lunch. They are not too strict about it in class either unless it causes a disturbance.

[richalex2010]

According to the rulebook, no electronic devices other than school computer allowed during school hours.

According to enforcement, some teachers are very lenient (one lets us plug MP3 players into his speakers during class, as long as the music isn't difficult to work with; another doesn't mind us listening to music on our own while working, after tests, etc.). No teacher will let anyone use a phone during class unless they get specific permission, and if a phone rings the student isn't allowed to answer (usually - if they are, it's pretty much to say "don't call me, I'm in school right now").

Ironically, it's mostly parents who call during school hours (according to the teachers I've spoken to about this).

[ComradeNikolai]

At our school, phones are "strictly prohibited" during school hours; from first period to ninth period, there is to be no use of them, unless you go to the main office and request permission to call your parents. However, most teachers just provide a warning if a phone goes off during class, and then take it away for the rest of the day on the second occurance (it gets sent down to the principal, and the school policy is that they may check whatever's on it; he must get a good laugh from some text messages.) However, some teachers (Latin) don't care how much we use it during class, as long as we do our work and don't cause a disruption.

[Joe G.]

I have also had one that doesn't mind if it goes off, his rule is that he gets to answer the phone.

I have one who not only does that, but also pretends to be the kid for some time.

[Pavan Dave]

Can't use them in school AT ALL. Before 7:10 they are fair game and after 2:30 they are fair game but between those times you better be prepared with $15 dollars because if your phone gets taken up because you took it out (for any reason from time to text) your phone gets confiscated and you must pay to get it back from your principal's secretary.

The thing is though, everybody texts in class and half the teachers don't care. Some will take up for duration of the class and give back at the end of day for no fine while others follow the school rules strictly.

[usbcd36]

I don't have a cell phone (wow), so I've never had any personal experience with the school's policy, but I've heard and and seen it many times. During lunch and free periods (or any time you're in the commons), there are no problems with having cell phones or other electronic devices out. If you're in a class or study hall, however, it's a different story. One of the study hall moderators is fine with any electronic device as long as the room is quiet; the other does not allow anything but books and paper to be out (and possibly a calculator), and if he sees headphones or a headset, they (and the device they go to) end up in the office.

Different teachers have different policies as well. Some will take the cell phones and give them back at the end of the class, some will follow official rules and hand them over to the office (first offense: end of the day, second offense: end of year, parent must pick up), and others have their own methods of punishing people who use them (one teacher will erase everything on the phone, even if it takes him a few hours). Most teachers warn, then take the phones. Very few people will pull their phones back out after a warning.

During passing time, there are hall monitors (yes, I know, "in a high school?") that watch us and will confiscate any visible electronic device. They do not give warnings, and follow school policy strictly.

The stupidest thing is that most of the people are required to carry them at all times by their parents, even though the parents know they're not supposed to be brought to school. Just one of the things that annoys me about the people here….