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Feedback: School Now Allows Kids To Use Cell Phones

Story Published: Nov 20, 2012 at 6:23 PM EDT

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2012 at 7:35 PM EDT

Texting in class - we know kids do it.

And now at Lyme Central School, it's no longer against the rules.

Under the new policy, students at every grade level in the pre-kindergarten through 12 school can use their cell phones during the school day. 

That means at lunch, in the hall and even in the classroom if the student has permission from the teacher. 

"You can just be like, 'Hey, can I use my cell phone," said junior Forrest Stafford.
 
The school board changed from the school's old "no-phones" policy at the beginning of the school year, with the idea that cell phones are just part of everyday life

"We know in the workplace, there have been issues around cell phone abuse. We want kids to understand there's a right way to use them and right time to use them and a wrong time to use them," said Superintendent Karen Donahue.

Administration has only encountered two incidents under the new policy this year. 

That's a big change from last year under the old policy, when disruptions were commonplace.

"People would freak out. They would not let the teacher take their phone," said junior Erica Gardner.

And with problems all the time, Lyme decided a policy prohibiting phones was unrealistic and unenforceable. 

"It was kind of a time waster. If a kid is not going to follow the rules and makes it their goal in life, then we're going to invest a lot of resources unnecessarily," said Donahue.

Donahue says she's trying to keep education up with technology.

Just about every student has a cell phone.

The bottom line - if students can dial up in class, then teachers won't have to call them out. 
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
, Watertown, NY

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