Should Students Be Allowed To Bring Cell Phones To School?

It's the main form of communication for almost any teen.

A cell phone has the ability to field calls, send texts, take photos and surf the Internet.

All things youngsters like to do.

Not surprisingly, school districts need to have specific policies to deal with this phenomenon.

At Albany Middle School, for example, the parent/student handbook states that students can bring phones to school with parental permission, but those devices must be turned off during school hours.

The handbook says cell phones should not be visible at any time when school is in session. Students who violate those rules can have their cell phones confiscated for the day.

What do you think? Should phones be allowed at schools and what restrictions should be placed on them? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

There is an ongoing debate nationwide over whether students should have phones on campus and be able to use them.

National School Safety And Security Services, a private company that specializes in school safety has a column with the pros and cons on its website.

They note there is a safety factor in having a cell phone when emergencies occur. Students are able to quickly get in touch with parents and other people.

They also acknowledge there is a learning component that comes with cell phones and other electronic devices. They can be useful in classroom teaching situations.

However, the company says the phones can cause disruptions in class when they ring. Students also get distracted when they are sending or receiving text messages.

The company adds phones have been used to take photos of exams and other materials.

In addition, in emergencies students using the phones en masse can overwhelm a system, preventing anyone from being able to communicate.