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The Student News Site of Niles West High School

Niles West News

The Student News Site of Niles West High School

Niles West News

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New Cell Phone Policy Under Consideration

A student texts under the desk during class. If a new cell phone policy is approved, students will be allowed to use their phones during lunch and passing periods. PHOTO illustration by Rozy Kanjee

Do you want to be able to use your phone during lunch and passing periods? If the new cell phone policy gets approved, you’ll be able to.

As of this year, the use of cell phones at any time between 8:10 am and 3:23 pm is prohibited. The proposal for a change in the cell phone policy, if passed, will call for the use of cell phones and iPod touches in hallways during passing periods and in the cafeteria and student activities center during lunch periods.

Regardless of the current school rules, students have been caught using phones in bathrooms, locker rooms, and classrooms. A major problem lies here when someone uses any device with a camera in a place where one would expect there to be privacy for protection. It is illegal to use devices of the sort in areas like these, according to English teacher and chair of staff council Michael Conroy.

“[The cell phone policy change] is embracing inevitability,” Conroy said.

The new policy must be approved by the EPAC, the Educational Policy Advisory Committee, before Niles West can put the policy into effect. This could happen anytime between now and the beginning the 2011-2012 school year.

Conroy said he is in favor of this change for the reasons that students will use phones during the day, especially if they are completely banned from doing so.

“Kids use phones throughout the day. That’s this generation’s primary form of communication. If they can’t do it within the context of the rules, they’ll do it outside the context of the rules,” said Conroy.

Junior Adrian Carrera agrees.

“Allowing students [to use their phones during free periods] will give them more freedom. They can get their texting out of the way during passing periods instead of in class,” he said.

Sophomore Shana Nissan looks at this potential change from another perspective.

“If you permit this change, people might abuse the privilege and use their phones in classrooms,” she said.

If Niles West decides to adopt the new policy, serious consequences will be put in action.

The first offense will result in the confiscation of the phone, and the parent(s) must retrieve the phone from the dean. The punishment for the second offense is the confiscation of the phone and a three-hour Saturday detention. The third offense of the policy will be that the phone is confiscated and an in-school detention.

“Students will have to learn to abide by the new rules. The penalties are pretty severe,” said Conroy.

Even if Niles West decides to adopt this policy, Niles North and Niles Central don’t have to, Conroy said.

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  • A

    A ParentMay 8, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    People steal too. Should we permit stealing at school? People may fall asleep during class. Should we allow students to take naps as they wish? People have been caught smoking or drinking. Might as well let them do those things during school.

    Bottom line: We cannot allow what will distract our children into doing worse stuff. Facebook is already an issue that is not handled well. Now there will be students around the school using Facebook AND cellphones.

    Reply
    • A

      A StudentMay 9, 2011 at 4:19 PM

      First off, Facebook, to the disappointment of many students, was blocked at school last year. Technology and times are evolving and I think it’s completely fair that the school rules are changing too. Stealing, sleeping and doing drugs are completely different than using one’s phone. Using a phone isn’t hurting anyone.

      Also, most people I know have a smart phone with apps for email, internet, word processing and more. For those of us that don’t have the privilege of having a netbook available to us at all times, using our phones is the only other option. Email and other forms of electronic messaging have become the norm and I think it is about time that the school realizes that.

      To go back to the Facebook issue, I find it illogical that the district continue to keep Facebook blocked. Many of the clubs and activities here at school utilize Facebook to send out information to those involved, and honestly, it is the best way to do it. Most people check their Facebook pages more often than they check their email. Not only that, but the IRC and Student Activities have Facebook pages.

      I’m glad that the school has finally begun to change its policies along with the changing times. It is inevitable that everything will soon be available online or through the use of some sort of technology and we shouldn’t be discouraged from using it as an educational tool.

      Bottom line: times are changing and we shouldn’t be afraid to change with it.

      Reply
    • N

      NW studentMay 9, 2011 at 4:27 PM

      I understand what you are trying to say; however, this is the natural course of things. There have been talk about this very same plan in other districts besides Niles West. As the technology gets more high tech, the rules have to change as well. The education possibilities using our phones during school hours are virtually unlimited. You need to know something? Well there is an app or you can use the internet on your phone. Why care a dictionary when you can just look it up in a flash? As for distraction, I am a Niles West student. If the student does not really want to learn, then they won’t learn. If this rule doesn’t pass, there will be nothing changed. We will continue to use the phones while carefully watching out. So, it can ether be we have the right to text in the hallways, which will in most cases get it out of out systems before we each class, or we can continue to do what we do best: texting without anyone noticing in class.

      Reply
  • A

    anonymousMay 7, 2011 at 11:53 PM

    i would love to be able to use my cell phone in lunch, because i always want to play one of the games on my phone while i have spare time and no homework, but i do not think the downside of this has been addressed strongly enough. don’t forget that this would allow kids in lunch to text other kids who are in class; this could result in a significant increase in texting during class. i think a solution to that would be to crack down harder on kids using cell phones in class. teachers, if you’re watching a movie with the lights off and a student’s face is glowing light blue every time he looks down, he’s texting. if a student has a bag on his/her desk and isn’t participating much or raising their hand, they’re probably texting. i sure hope this policy gets passed though. there are lots of benefits of being able to use cellphones during passing periods like calling a parent or calling a classmate to meet up to return a lost item or a textbook or something.

    Reply
  • C

    chimichangaMay 7, 2011 at 12:07 AM

    yay

    Reply
  • S

    SanjayMay 6, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    Sophomore Shana Nissan makes a strong point. It’s difficult to argue with her case.

    Reply