Schools already limit cell phones

By MICHAEL MARESH

Staff writer

A move by legislators to prohibit students from using cell phones during the school day has upset some students. But Marion High School and Middle School principals say the proposal wouldn’t have much impact.

“MMS already has a policy that students are not allowed to have cell phones on throughout the day,” middle school principal Kelsey Metro said. “Our policy is ‘off and away throughout the day.’ ”

The only exception is if students become sick and need to reach parents. School approval still would be needed. During a tragedy, the school would prefer that first responders be notified before parents. Having parents rush to the school could impede response time, Metro said.

A lot of students put phones in backpacks or lockers after turning them off, Metro said.

The high school has a similar policy.

“MHS already has a cell phone policy that does not allow students to have their cell phones in their possession during class time,” principal Donald Raymer said. “Our policy is ‘from bell to bell, no cell, and from class to class, check it fast.’ ”

Legislative proposals would be stricter. It would prohibit use of private electronic communication devices anytime during the school day, including during class changes.

While leaving Peabody’s The Hub youth center Saturday night, Peabody-Burns ninth-grader Devlin Kealy called the proposal a bad idea and wondered how it could be enforced.

“It’s not going to change anything,” he said. “It’s a really dumb idea. I just wouldn’t like it.”

Ninth-grader Aliena Dunnahoo agreed.

“Not anyone would follow it,” she said.

Eighth-grader Mason Tindall proposed an alternative.

“I think we should all have pouches for our cell phones in the classroom in case we need them during an emergency,” he said.