Cell phones: so good or no good?

Editor's note: This column originally ran in West End Journal.

The Tuscaloosa Board of Education has put their foot down. They are staying true to their decision to ban cell phones in the area's schools. In fact, they want to "tighten up" the language that's already in the policy.

While Tuscaloosa residents are begging them to make the policy more relaxed and offer some leeway, they are instead making the policy stricter. Dorothy Richardson, city school's assistant superintendent for general administration, told the Tuscaloosa News that the system's discipline codebook committee wanted to "tighten up the language that's already in the Tuscaloosa's cell phone policy." The city's Board of Education is reviewing the committee's recommendation before a final document is voted on.

But is all of this worth leaving students without an essential form of communication? Being without a cell phone was fine in the past when phones weren't so necessary and familiar in our world. Today's kids were raised in a world of ever-developing technology. I don't think the school board realizes how much they are stripping these kids.

Richardson said the use of text messaging and camera phones could create problems in school. She gave the scenario that a student could take a picture of their calculus test and send it to a friend. According to one high school, there is a misconception when it comes to cell phones and cheating. Richardson said if a student really wanted to cheat, there are easier ways. I completely agree with her.

I think the school board is overreacting. Students are aware of what they can do with technology, but sticking to the basics only works for those who choose to stoop low enough to cheating. Teachers are expecting kids to use high-tech, clever ways to cheat. Meanwhile, they're overlooking the student who has written the test answers in the palm of his hand.

Maybe I have compassion for the students because I can remember high school like it was yesterday. I can understand why the board wants to be so strict about it, though. Cell phones can indeed cause many distractions in the classroom. Every year there seems to be a new big thing when it comes to cell phones.

During my early days in high school it was cool for your phone to have a blue screen with flashing lights. And it was especially cool if your phone was in full color. Everyone would be passing his or her phone around the class to show everyone what made it special.

This was before camera phones and frequent text messaging, however. Text messaging was around, but it wasn't as fun and convenient. Even if your mom did let you send them, you might be still out of luck. There was a chance that your friend's mom didn't let her send them because they were so expensive back then.

Our parents got us cell phones because more communication between parents and children can reduce possible complications and bad situations, not so we can entertain each other in class.

Cell phones are important for students to have because they might need to get in touch with their parents. At some schools, it's not easy for students to gain access to the phone in the office if there isn't a phone in the classroom. They may become ill and need to be picked up. Band practice may have been canceled, and they now have to make arrangements to be picked up earlier.

What if it's tornado season? When bad weather came I can remember my peers' parents getting in touch with them to tell them that they were going to pick them up and not to ride the bus. That's pretty important. Their child may have been doomed if they ended up being on a bus when a funnel cloud was near. What if there is a dreaded school shooting or hostage situation?

There are too many students and too many parents for communication between parents and children to be limited to school phones. The lines are already tied up with school-related business. They weren't meant to deal with high volumes of phone calls from parents. I'm sure leaders of education want parents to stay involved with their kids' lives. That definitely can't be done if necessary communication is cut off at school.

Kamilah Perry is a senior majoring in journalism.