Hillsborough may toughen cell phone penalties in schools

Tampa, Florida-Hillsborough students who pull out their cell phones during school hours or are caught text messaging may soon get more than a warning.

[Dawn]

Students are in the classroom to learn, not blab on theior cell phones. I'm sure it's not only a distraction to the teachers but other students as well.

[You go it]

Dont bring or use cell phones in class, i dont even bring my cell phone into work.

[Steve]

I blame the parents for buying there kids cell phones in the first place. Kids do not need a cell phone. Parents need to take away the phone in the morning and give it back after school. Cell phone companies needs to have a system setup where a cell phone would be turned off during school hours except for making 911 calls. If a student is caught with a cell phone, they should take it away and call the parents for them to pick it up and not give it back to the student at the end of day. That way the parents might get a clue to not give there kids there cell phone back.

[Teacher]

I think cell phones should not be allowed in school at all. I am an elementary school teacher and it is ridiculous how many kids we have that carry around cell phones on a daily basis. There have been incidents of students texting each other during classes and lunch, even prank calling teachers. It is unexceptable. I understand the need for parents to know if their child got home from school safely and so on, but there has to be some kind of limit.

[a-mous pine sec teacher]

Isn't it ironic... that pinellas county announced to its teachers at least at my school... a looser penalty for cell phone and ipod usage. Maybe it is just my school... the nameless one... but it is "left to the principal's discretion." Let's take grip on reality... cheating, instructional disruption, I think I will start sending math problems via text message and see what happens... i give.

[TILLEY]

PHONES SHOULD BE TURN OFF DURING CLASS..THREE WARNINGS AND YOU'R PHONE SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY DURING SCHOOL..

[ems]

I think they should have their phones available for emergency situations but should not be allowed to access them during class hours. That will be very hard to enforce, but at my job we cannot use cell phones at our desks and I believe the same should go for students while in class.

[Kathleen in Zephyrhills]

Of course the kids think what they have to say is too important too wait ... and it is a load of bull ... cell phones are an extreme distraction in the classroom ... they aren't going to die if they have to wait the 40 minutes each period takes to talk to their friends ... personally I see no reason for teenagers to have a cell phone to begin with ... I agree they are in school to learn and cell phones have no place in the classroom

[Odd Man Out]

there is no reason that they should have cell phones in class. the rule should be it MUST be turned off during school hours.

[Brian]

The phones should be turned off and in lockers. This should be a rule already.

[Sarcasm Lives]

I wonder how many of you have cell phones and are constantly using them/"texting" (if that's a word) with them when it's not necessary. When I was a "people" manager, my employees always said.."I have children, I need my cell phone in case something happens." I said...give em your work number and have them call you here. Adults, as much as children, are guilty of using their cell phones at unnecessary times. It's a plague, a plague on both your houses!!! Lol...Enjoy party people.

[Math Teacher]

I am all for purchasing cell phone jammers and using them in the schools!:-)
As soon as they are legal and affordable, I will be first in line to purchase one.

The other aspect is that kids are using their phones to cheat on tests.(ie texting, taking pics of test questions, ect.)

[clb]

Yea and who are they going to hire to enforce it?

[hmmm]

If I could just grab one kid's phone during class and smash that damn thing with a hammer, I would have no more problems the rest of the year.

I have students whose PARENTS text them throughout the day. Come on and cut the cord. Your kid is in high school, not two-years old!

I tell them the same thing when they say there could be an emergency...have your parents call the school, the people from the office can come get you.

[KELLY]

In many businesses we can not even use cells but during lunch hour or before and after work, I am talking many Fortune 500 co. So why are these kids allowed to chat in class? Ban cells completely like the big business world and lear there are rules to follow or get a day suspension. What happen to detention?

[Theresa-WTSP]

Thanks so much for your feedback all - we're airing some of these at 4pm on Ch10 in Tampa Bay.

[Lutz Parent]

I am the very aware of the need for todays youth to keep in touch. I am guilty myself of calling my son when something comes to mind. I think they should be allowed to keep the phones turned off or in the locker or car. When our daughter started to drive she was given a phone. And on 911 she called me from her class room. I was thankful to know she was alright and to know what was going on. Our son was not of driving age at the time, but I went out and gt him one for just that reason.

However, as it stands now the parent has to go to the school and claim the cell phone. But I think they are asking for trouble if they keep a cell phone and someones child breaks down or has an accident and can't reach the parents. God forbid "abducted" they can trace the cell phone. I would not want to be on the end of that law suit.....

[mom of one]

I am all for kids having cell phones for emergency situation but NOT for mis use especially during school. They do have phones out for kids that there parents are the only ones allowed to put #'s in for emergency's. My husband just graduated the police academy and they weren't even allowed to have their phones on campus!

[Mindy]

What about the teachers' cell phones? My middle school daughter has had her teacher talking on a personal call while the kids are trying to take a test!

[FLORIDA]

The more you try to ban something the more the kids will use it. In my high school they tried to limit when you could use your locker and guess what happened? More students started to use them more often on purpose. Cellphone are a part of life now. START GETTING USED TO IT!!!