Phone Taken in School

Lotsafish

Now this didn't happen to me but to a friend of mine but it raises the question of what I'd do in this situation:

The schools policy is that it is a 'Phone-Free Zone', and that if a student is found using a phone it is taken away from them and kept for a week - then its given back to them.

This rule applies from the time they enter the school until the time they leave, lunch breaks included!

I do agree with the no phone policy during classes and in between classes, but during lunch?!

So my question is: What right does the school have to take away a possession of a student. And can a parent storm down to the school and get it back?

JacksDad

Lotsafish wrote: »

The schools policy is that it is a 'Phone-Free Zone'

Its a no brainer IMHO. If the school has a phone-free policy then treat it as such.
If they've implemented a policy then then they have every right to confiscate the phone no matter what time of the school day.
Parents can storm anywhere they like - anyone can in fact - but if such a policy exists I wouldn't be wasting my time storming anywhere.

realmadrid

Their house their rules im afraid! what part of phone free zone does the student not understand. And whats with the parent storming anywhere?! Student shouldnt have had the phone and now he/she has to do with out. Maybe a week is a bit long but why is parent getting invoved in defending a students obvious breaking of a rule? Is parent going to do the same when student gets older? Let the student understand that for his/her actions there are consequences. Such is life!

Hagar

Ask in the Legal Discussion Forum. I don't know if any and every rule that school committees come up with is enforceable in law despite their good intentions. Private property rights are very strong in Ireland. The school may be overstepping their authority by not returning the phone when the student leaves the premises.

Khannie

I don't understand what the problem is. The kid broke the rules and is now paying the price. Are you their parent?

Hagar

Nobody on this thread is claiming to be the child's parent?
I wasn't aware we couldn't discuss topics in the abstract.

robinph

If a school is able to keep children behind for things like detention, then why not take the phone off them for a week as punishment for breaking the rules.

Mr. Presentable

Lotsafish wrote: »

I do agree with the no phone policy during classes and in between classes, but during lunch?!

Re this part of your post. You need to understand why phones are forbidden.

1 To prevent disruption due to use for texting etc in class

2 To prevent theft by other pupils

3 To prevent video bullying (happy slapping etc)

And for these reasons a phone is also inappropriate during lunch. Perhaps more so.

In response to your particular query, the school has a rulebook (ours does anyway) to which the parent and student must agree at the beginning of the year. I feel the phone should be returned at the end of the day, but only to a parent.

Khannie

69 wrote: »

Nobody on this thread is claiming to be the child's parent?

That's why I asked.

69 wrote: »

I wasn't aware we couldn't discuss topics in the abstract.

Take it easy there. I didn't say you couldn't. Nor can I see anywhere that I even implied it. Unless I'm actively moderating (rare) I'm just a contributor on here. If I am moderating then I'll be unambiguous.

cynder

After reading this thread i e-mailed the school we want are daughter to attend in 2 years time, to ask what there stance is on mobile phones as my daughter is diabetic she need a mobile with her so she can phone me at lunch to see how many insulin units she has to take.

Max Power1

no "user agreement" in the world allows for confiscation of private property and not returned when you leave the premises. I can understand if its taken till end of school day but beyond that is not legally enforceable.

ScouseMouse

If the rules of the school say no phones at all, then the parent is responsible. As long as the rules are publicly available, then how can anyone say its unfair?

If the parent allows the phone to go to school then they cannot complain when its confiscated.

Arrogant parent maybe ?

As for the diabetic child, these would be special circumstances that would need to be discussed with the principle. But why would the child need to know how much insulin to take at lunch and how would the parent know at lunch but not know a breakfast time ?

ScouseMouse

Max Power1 wrote: »

no "user agreement" in the world allows for confiscation of private property and not returned when you leave the premises. I can understand if its taken till end of school day but beyond that is not legally enforceable.

The same could be said for mobiles at work. A lot of places don't allow them, so whats the alternative? Suspension?

What would you prefer?

Lotsafish

Khannie wrote: »

I don't understand what the problem is. The kid broke the rules and is now paying the price. Are you their parent?

As I said in my post:

Now this didn't happen to me but to a friend of mine but it raises the question of what I'd do in this situation

grindelwald wrote: »

After reading this thread i e-mailed the school we want are daughter to attend in 2 years time, to ask what there stance is on mobile phones as my daughter is diabetic she need a mobile with her so she can phone me at lunch to see how many insulin units she has to take.

This would be my concern, if a child of mine has their phone on them in school then the reason would be if they needed to contact me for any reason, the school taking that phone away worries me.

And dont say that the school provides a telephone for those circumstances because back when I was in school when I tried to ring home, sick for instance, I was told to sit down and deal with it. Or, again as was the case for me, the teacher is mistreating the student.

If the school takes the phone and keeps it for a week, they are taking away that point of contact.


Really its the week thats catching me - if I go down to the school and ask for the phone back and the school say no, then they are denying it from ME - essentially withholding MY property.

Crash

superscouse wrote: »

As for the diabetic child, these would be special circumstances that would need to be discussed with the principle. But why would the child need to know how much insulin to take at lunch and how would the parent know at lunch but not know a breakfast time ?

I'm assuming you don't know much about Diabetes (don't mean that in a mean way btw)

the childs insulin would depend on blood sugar levels at lunch time, the lunch just eaten, as well as plans for the rest of the day (for instance, if PE is planned for the afternoon, then generally you would want sugar levels to run high to prevent becoming hypoglycemic from exercise) - there's are general rules, but its not hard and fast, and is can be affected by a multitude of things. You can't just plan your insulin intake at lunch based purely on what the lunch is.

Khannie

Max Power1 wrote: »

is not legally enforceable.

Neither is detention (which is effectively imprisonment). Who cares if it's legally enforceable or not? If you break the rules and you know the consequences for that then you should suck it up IMO.

Khannie

Lotsafish wrote: »

As I said in my post

Yeah, I missed that bit.

Lotsafish wrote: »

This would be my concern, if a child of mine has their phone on them in school then the reason would be if they needed to contact me for any reason, the school taking that phone away worries me.

Really? Would you have a 4 year old with a phone? (genuine question) Wouldn't have occurred to me to be honest. Schools are much quicker to phone a parent these days than they were when I was a kid.

As you say though, it's your property. You could walk down there and demand it back of course. I just think you'd be setting a very bad example by doing so (the example being that it's ok to break the rules because mum or dad will get your phone back).

Hagar

The OP clearly stated that they were not the parent.

Khannie wrote: »

Are you their parent?

That made me think you only wanted comments from the parents. The perils of interpreting the written word. :rolleyes: I assume mods are always mods, I find it safest that way.


I can't accept the "The kid broke the rules and is now paying the price." aatitude. If a rule is unjust should we be teaching our children to accept injustice? Or should we question the rule? No injustice for my kids thanks. Bowing down before false authority is was allowed the horrors happen in our school system in the past.

/edit I see the parent bit has been acknowledged while I was composing the post.

Khannie

69 wrote: »

That made me think you only wanted comments from the parents. The perils of interpreting the written word. :rolleyes: I assume mods are always mods, I find it safest that way.

Fair enough.

69 wrote: »

I can't accept the "The kid broke the rules and is now paying the price." attitude. If a rule is unjust should we be teaching our children to accept injustice? Or should we question the rule? No injustice for my kids thanks. Bowing down before false authority is was allowed the horrors happen in our school system in the past.

Agree 100%. If I have a problem with a rule I'd go to the school in advance of it being broken though and suggest that they implement a different punishment; Detention for example.

If I had a *really* big problem with a rule, I'd seriously consider moving my child to a different school.

ScouseMouse

Crash wrote: »

I'm assuming you don't know much about Diabetes (don't mean that in a mean way btw)

the childs insulin would depend on blood sugar levels at lunch time, the lunch just eaten, as well as plans for the rest of the day (for instance, if PE is planned for the afternoon, then generally you would want sugar levels to run high to prevent becoming hypoglycemic from exercise) - there's are general rules, but its not hard and fast, and is can be affected by a multitude of things. You can't just plan your insulin intake at lunch based purely on what the lunch is.

I know enough as I used to be an instructor of first aid.

If PE was planned that afternoon requireing a glucose boost, they still would know in the morning and extra sugar could be provided.

If the child is testing themselves and reporting back to the parent then thats one thing, but the question was unclear about that.

Mr. Presentable

On the diabetese question, the school has a phone, and calling parents is one of its primary functions.

rainbowtrout

nipplenuts wrote: »

Re this part of your post. You need to understand why phones are forbidden.

1 To prevent disruption due to use for texting etc in class

2 To prevent theft by other pupils

3 To prevent video bullying (happy slapping etc)

And for these reasons a phone is also inappropriate during lunch. Perhaps more so.

In response to your particular query, the school has a rulebook (ours does anyway) to which the parent and student must agree at the beginning of the year. I feel the phone should be returned at the end of the day, but only to a parent.

Phones are banned in the school I work in. If a student has a phone they have to leave it in their locker. Obviously this is hard to enforce if they have it in their pocket or bag.

Phones are a disruption in class, as the above post says they are used for bullying, they have been used to film teachers in my school and put videos on the internet, there was an incidence of a lad trying to put his phone under girls skirts walking upstairs to take photos. It's about child protection.

grindelwald wrote: »

After reading this thread i e-mailed the school we want are daughter to attend in 2 years time, to ask what there stance is on mobile phones as my daughter is diabetic she need a mobile with her so she can phone me at lunch to see how many insulin units she has to take.

She doesn't need a mobile phone, she can phone from the office in the school. For students in your daughters situation, staff are made aware of her situation when she starts school (they are in my school anyway) and the fact that she would need that kind of access. Her phone could also be left in the school office where she could make her call at lunch. There would be no need for her to have it in class.

Lotsafish wrote: »

As I said in my post:





This would be my concern, if a child of mine has their phone on them in school then the reason would be if they needed to contact me for any reason, the school taking that phone away worries me.

And dont say that the school provides a telephone for those circumstances because back when I was in school when I tried to ring home, sick for instance, I was told to sit down and deal with it. Or, again as was the case for me, the teacher is mistreating the student.

If the school takes the phone and keeps it for a week, they are taking away that point of contact.


Really its the week thats catching me - if I go down to the school and ask for the phone back and the school say no, then they are denying it from ME - essentially withholding MY property.

Most schools have a policy that parents and students sign up to when they enter the school. They also have sanctions in that policy if rules are broken. If you sign the policy you are agreeing to those rules and sanctions. Again, your child can phone from the office if needs be, and you can also contact the school and the message can be passed on.

69 wrote: »

I can't accept the "The kid broke the rules and is now paying the price." aatitude. If a rule is unjust should we be teaching our children to accept injustice? Or should we question the rule? No injustice for my kids thanks. Bowing down before false authority is was allowed the horrors happen in our school system in the past.

How do you see the rule as injust, should there be no rules at all in the school, send the child in, let him/her go wild because it would be injust to instill a little discipline? Do you think it would be just to have your child texting and accepting calls in class while the rest of the class was trying to work just because you don't want to 'bow down to false authority'? If you're not happy with the phone policy or any other policy in a school send your child elsewhere. We've had the phone policy in my school for many years and none of the parents complain. They are more concerned with their child being bullied in school through the use of phones

beth-lou

The kid was fully aware of the policy and still used the phone.
The kid knew the consquences if they got caught, so let them deal with them.
No phone for a week. The kid has no one to blame but themselves.

I agree with the no phone rule, for all of the obvious reasons stated already.

What does the parent hope to achieve by going down to the school to get the phone back? The only thing that you will teach the child is that they can do what they want, as Mam or Dad will back them up and challenge the teacher. Even over an established rule.

The best thing that parent can do is tell the kid to suck it up, they shouldn't have used the phone in school, and hopefully the kid will learn boundries.

Too many parents these days are letting their kids away with this kind of crap and think their kids can do no wrong.

If the school policy is a week, then a week it is.
The kid I assume was fully aware of that when they pulled out the phone.
Tell your friend to back the school up here.
The kid broke the rules.

seamus

Khannie wrote: »

Neither is detention (which is effectively imprisonment). Who cares if it's legally enforceable or not? If you break the rules and you know the consequences for that then you should suck it up IMO.

For all intents and purposes, these are agreements between the parent and the school, things which you agree to do in order to remain in the school.

Detention isn't imprisonment - there's nothing to stop the child from packing up and walking out of the building.

However, the general stance is that if the child or the parent doesn't wish to stick to the terms of the agreement, then they've terminated their child's place in that school.

If the agreement states that you don't bring a phone into school or surrender it for a week, then you abide by that agreement or you leave.

Agreements however must be reasonable and legal - you couldn't insist that children present themselves for baody cavity searches each morning or that phones will be crushed.

I think schools need to take a hard line on this kind of thing. If a parent marches down to the school demanding that the child's phone is returned to them, then you tell them you can return the phone but you'll have to expel the child because the agreement has been terminated. It's become an increasing pox in schools where parents refuse to back up the school's authority and the child turns into a scumbag because he knows his parents will back him to the hilt.

The key here is that everything is voluntary - the child presents themself to detention and they're not under any physical restraint to stay there. Likewise the child surrenders the mobile phone of their own free will, it isn't taken from them forcefully.

Oryx

Lotsafish wrote: »

This would be my concern, if a child of mine has their phone on them in school then the reason would be if they needed to contact me for any reason, the school taking that phone away worries me.

Mobile phones are only commonplace in the last 15 years. We all survived school without them. If a child needs you, you will be contacted. God be with the days when we didnt even have a house phone, and I still survived, uncontactable, at school.

Kids do not need mobile phones, at all. They have them as a toy, a convenience, and reassurance to parents. But kids can safely last a day in school without one, and I would back any school with rules as outlined above, where phones are banned and confiscated if the rule is broken.

beth-lou

Oryx wrote: »

Mobile phones are only commonplace in the last 15 years. We all survived school without them. If a child needs you, you will be contacted. God be with the days when we didnt even have a house phone, and I still survived, uncontactable, at school.

Kids do not need mobile phones, at all. They have them as a toy, a convenience, and reassurance to parents. But kids can safely last a day in school without one, and I would back any school with rules as outlined above, where phones are banned and confiscated if the rule is broken.

My thoughts exactly.

Kimono-Girl

Lotsafish wrote: »

So my question is: What right does the school have to take away a possession of a student. And can a parent storm down to the school and get it back?

If your child and/or you signed a contract with the school (which everyone does at the start of the year)saying you agree to abide by their policys then yes the school has a right to enforce the policy as stated and agreed to.

and a parent cannot just storm down to the school and get it back, as said parent would also have agreed to allow the school possession of the phone for a week if the student is caught with it, why would the parent get angry over the school doing what the parent agreed it could??

LegacyUser

Is this a secondary or primary school?
if it's a secondary, then why is a child with diabetes ringing home every lunchtime to find out how many insulin units to take? Surely that should be a stage of their lives where they start learning how to figure it out for themselves.
If it's a primary, surely the parent should make it their business to sort out a system with the teacher whereby they know what activity the child will be doing before/after lunch, and they provide their child with an appropriate packed lunch. Most teachers will be good enough to keep an eye on a child with an illness like that anyway.
I got through secondary school in the late 90's with no phone. I came home sick from school a few times. My mother is a teacher and wasn't contactable during the day whether I had a phone or not, and my dad couldn't leave his job either. I managed.
I understand the parent's concern over the diabetes, but you can't have one rule for one person and a different one for everyone else, particularly among kids. The school is not some kind of prison, if there's anything wrong with the child, they'll do their utmost to contact someone, particularly if it's known the child has diabetes. I think here the onus is on the parent to sort out a system with the school, not go storming anywhere.And if the child is that bit older, I'd be questioning whether they ring home every time they eat anywhere to establish the quantity of insulin units, and whether the parent should re-think that system.

cynder

Hi to all,

My 10 year old is in 4th class and in 2nd class we were asked by the then principle to provide a mobile phone for the sna to use to phone us (the parents) to see how many units of insulin to take. we had to provide the call credit aswell At the christmas holidays they lost the charger and wanted us to get them a new phone, they would not call from the office. This year we have a new principle who allows the sna to use the office phone. the sna will be gone next term.

My daughter will be 12 going too secondry to young for her to decide how many units she should take. Too many could result in a coma. Her bloods fluctuate and are never the same even if she eats same food. she could go from needing 5 units one week to 10 units the next.

(There are way to many things for her to consider blood sugar reading, carbs, exersise, sun (when its sunny her bloods tend to be high), hormones (growth hormone prevents the insulin from being absorbed ), stress (exams), sickness...... and many more. )

Any ways i got a quick response from the principle this is what he wrote:

Good that you are thinking well in advance.
All health situtions are carefully monitored in xxxxxx.However we cannot administer any injections to pupils.
We would make her teachers aware of the situation as well.
If contact to a parent is necessary at any time it would go through the Deputy principal or Principals office.
Hope this answers your questions.


Regards


xxxxxx

So i take it she wont be able to use her phone but at least she can ring every day on the office phone.



* My daughter does test and inject herself, but it us who decide what insulin she gets as we dont trust her to judge it her self maybe when she reaches 14-15* She went through a faze where she added 2 units to whatever insulin we told her to take so she would have a hypo and have something sweet..... of course we sussed it but thats kids and your cant trust them.

Hagar

rainbowtrout wrote: »

How do you see the rule as injust, should there be no rules at all in the school, send the child in, let him/her go wild because it would be injust to instill a little discipline? Do you think it would be just to have your child texting and accepting calls in class while the rest of the class was trying to work just because you don't want to 'bow down to false authority'?

Where exactly did I say or imply any of that behaviour was acceptable. Stop making stuff up. I'm just dicussing the overstepping of authority by the school in seizing a phone for a week. By all means deprive the child of the phone during school hours but you have no right to deprive him of access to his phone outside the school environs. I gave my youngest son a mobile phone because I and my wife want to be able to contact him when he is outside the home. We live in unsafe times and a child having a mobile phone can be a very valuable asset in keeping him safe.

rainbowtrout wrote: »

If you're not happy with the phone policy or any other policy in a school send your child elsewhere.

Obey or GTFO? Nice, I like it, it has a catchy ring to it.

Lotsafish

Oryx wrote: »

Mobile phones are only commonplace in the last 15 years. We all survived school without them. If a child needs you, you will be contacted.

Thats fine if your dealing with ideal circumstances, but if its the teacher who is abusing their power, treating the students wrongly, etc, then what is the student to do? Ask the teacher if they can ring home?!

Or as I mentioned, the child complains about feeling ill and the teacher tells them to sit down and be quiet.

I've been in this situation - as you pointed out, I didn't have a mobile phone - but I wish to god I did!

And please dont say that teachers these days dont abuse their power or their students for that matter, it happens.

John Mason

grindelwald wrote: »

After reading this thread i e-mailed the school we want are daughter to attend in 2 years time, to ask what there stance is on mobile phones as my daughter is diabetic she need a mobile with her so she can phone me at lunch to see how many insulin units she has to take.

so what would she have done 10 years ago when no-one had mobile phones ?

they didnt exist when i went to school and i, along with the rest of the school survived.

there is no need whatsoever for mobiles to be allowed in schools. schools have telephone and can be used but by the parent and the pupils in emergencies

seamus

69 wrote: »

Where exactly did I say or imply any of that behaviour was acceptable. Stop making stuff up. I'm just dicussing the overstepping of authority by the school in seizing a phone for a week.

The authority to do this is bestowed upon the school by the parents. If the parents have agreed to it, they're not overstepping anything.

I gave my youngest son a mobile phone because I and my wife want to be able to contact him when he is outside the home. We live in unsafe times and a child having a mobile phone can be a very valuable asset in keeping him safe.

Despite my disagreement about the "unsafe times" nonsense, if you don't want your child to be deprived of his phone outside of the school environs, then don't let him bring it into school with him and punish him if he does.

Problem solved, simple.

Oryx

Lotsafish wrote: »

Thats fine if your dealing with ideal circumstances, but if its the teacher who is abusing their power, treating the students wrongly, etc, then what is the student to do? Ask the teacher if they can ring home?!

Or as I mentioned, the child complains about feeling ill and the teacher tells them to sit down and be quiet.

I've been in this situation - as you pointed out, I didn't have a mobile phone - but I wish to god I did!

And please dont say that teachers these days dont abuse their power or their students for that matter, it happens.

Ive never heard of a situation in recent times where a teacher has blankly refused to help a clearly sick child, apart from anecdotal stories from the dim and distant past, and in the past I know of examples of abusive teachers who could not be stopped even when parents were well aware, phone or not. (My brother will testify to that)

I have however seen situations where teachers monitor a student who MAY be ill. There is a difference. I think youre trying to hold up an extreme example (seriously negligent teacher) to prove a point. But the fact is, most teachers are fine. And in 99.99% of cases a child will not need a phone in school. As none of us adults over 30 ever did.

Kimono-Girl

69 wrote: »

Obey or GTFO? Nice, I like it, it has a catchy ring to it.

it's not obey or GTFO its agree to the way we do things or find somewhere that agrees with you. you'll find in life that applies everywhere, not to side step the OP here but you'll find this policy in religon, workplaces, groups and obviously schools, its like parents who send children to catholic schools and complain because they make their child partake in the practises of the catholic religon! if you send your child to a 'no-mobile phone allowed' school don't complain when they wont let your child have a mobile!

if you don't like the schools policies dont send your child there...simple.

irishejit

A lot of the posters are assuming that the parents of the child would give the phone straight back to the child after lifting it from the school, say the same day it was lifted and let them bring it back the next day

I would agree that the parents should lift the phone on the day it was confiscated. One it is your property, and two, I can't imagine the scholl reimbursung someone if the phone got lost.

A simple way would be for the parent to take the phone from the child at the start of the day, and return it in the evening. Both school and parents would accept that, although you would have a grumpy kid for a few days!!!

Hagar

it's not obey or GTFO its agree to the way we do things or find somewhere that agrees with you.

Oh right, I get it now. I simply take my child to one of the many other schools in the catchment area, all of which have free places crying out for pupils.

I must say I really love the we bit.

I'll leave you to it.

cynder

if you don't like the schools policies dont send your child there...simple.[/QUOTE]


Thats why I e-mailed the principle today and im happy enough with what he said, but of course will have to meet with him before my daughter starts in the secondry school to finalise little details so I will be fully happy where I am sending her.

If they wont allow her to use her mobile but will provide an office phone to phone me on, im happy. I just hope they realise it will be once a day for the next 2-3 years....... as i said that merits further discusion with the principle before she starts.

beth-lou

69 wrote: »

Where exactly did I say or imply any of that behaviour was acceptable. Stop making stuff up. I'm just dicussing the overstepping of authority by the school in seizing a phone for a week. By all means deprive the child of the phone during school hours but you have no right to deprive him of access to his phone outside the school environs. I gave my youngest son a mobile phone because I and my wife want to be able to contact him when he is outside the home. We live in unsafe times and a child having a mobile phone can be a very valuable asset in keeping him safe.



Obey or GTFO? Nice, I like it, it has a catchy ring to it.

Well the obvious answer is to tell your kid not to use the phone during school time. Pretty simple. If he does, then take it up with him and hopefully he'll listen to you and the school the next time.

The school taking the phone off him for the day would be no different than him actually complying with the school rules, so what punishment is that?

Lotsafish

Oryx wrote: »

I think youre trying to hold up an extreme example (seriously negligent teacher) to prove a point. But the fact is, most teachers are fine.

Absolutely I'm holding up an extreme example! Because I'd be sending my kids into school with a phone in case of extreme situations!

And in 99.99% of cases a child will not need a phone in school. As none of us adults over 30 ever did.

Thats simply untrue.

cynder

irishbird wrote: »

so what would she have done 10 years ago when no-one had mobile phones ?

they didnt exist when i went to school and i, along with the rest of the school survived.

there is no need whatsoever for mobiles to be allowed in schools. schools have telephone and can be used but by the parent and the pupils in emergencies

I would have driven or walked to the school each lunch time to ensure she had correct units of insulin......(i have done)...... The school refused her to use the office phone we had to provide one ......with credit.


The principle she has now is far better and allows her to bring her phone in so she can phone me he also allows her to phone me from the office if her bloods are low and school is finished. she will drink her coke and will wait for a few mins inside the school until her bloods are above 4 and then come out to me. the other principle didnt allow this either - he left in november (thank god)...



Also just because that really gets to me - did you go to school with diabetes which ment that any time of any day you could have a fit and go into a coma and possible die...... WELL MY DAUGHTER DOES, SHE HAS NEARLY DIED TWICE IN THE LAST 3 YEARS she had not been at school but one day she might, A TUMMY BUG COULD KILL HER IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS

beth-lou

69 wrote: »

Oh right, I get it now. I simply take my child to one of the many other schools in the catchment area, all of which have free places crying out for pupils.

I must say I really love the we bit.

I'll leave you to it.

Just tell your kid not to use the phone in school.
It's not that complicated.

seamus

Lotsafish wrote: »

Absolutely I'm holding up an extreme example! Because I'd be sending my kids into school in case of extreme situations!

What do you mean by this? That you won't be sending your kids to school except in extreme circumstances?

Even if a teacher is abusing their power, then child can wait until the end of the day and tell their parents about it. No child ever died in an Irish school in the last 50 years because they were unable to get in instant contact with a parent.

Thats simply untrue.

How so? Millions of children have gone and still go to school without a mobile phone. How do they survive? My parents once had to be contacted when I was in school - when I puked all over the table in 3rd class. There was nobody lamenting the fact that they had to walk down the corridor to the principle's office and make a quick phone call.

In reality when an emergency does crop up, ringing the parents is the last thing which needs to be done. The school deals with the emergency, then lets the parent know whats happened. Contacting the parent instantly will not fix the emergency.

Oryx

Lotsafish wrote: »

Thats simply untrue.

Take my use of the word phone to mean Mobile phone. And it was impossible for any of us over 30s to have had one... cos they didnt exist. And we dealt with bad teachers, sickness, allergies, breaks and all of that without needing them. The only reason we feel the need for our kids to have them now is because we are used to the instant convenience of phones. But they are not essential to your childs safety whilst in a schools care. And they cause a lot of trouble within schools, they provide far more trouble than they do a benefit to pupils which is why on balance, they are banned in many schools.

cynder

seamus wrote: »

In reality when an emergency does crop up, ringing the parents is the last thing which needs to be done. The school deals with the emergency, then lets the parent know whats happened. Contacting the parent instantly will not fix the emergency.

Im an special case, if my daughter vomits we have to be informed asap, if she vomits 3 times in 2 hours she has to go to hospital to be re hydrated.
The school lacks information about certain illnesses and sometimes calling a parent is the best because a parent will know what to do. The school also have her diabetic nurses number and have contacted her time to time.

were lucky this year our daughters teachers brother is type 1 so he knows a lot about it and is very very understanding.

Kimono-Girl

69 wrote: »

Oh right, I get it now. I simply take my child to one of the many other schools in the catchment area, all of which have free places crying out for pupils.

I must say I really love the we bit.

I'll leave you to it.

whats wrong wit the 'we' bit?

'we' refers to everyone in the school partaking in the policy. apologies if i made you think anything else.

and this isn't a discussion on the availabilities of other schools and places so yes if you disagree with the policy on mobile phones you disagree with the rules as set by the school, just because there are a lack of places elsewhere doesn't entitle you to break school rules of the school you CHOOSE to send your child to.

Lotsafish

seamus wrote: »

What do you mean by this? That you won't be sending your kids to school except in extreme circumstances?

Meant to read: Because I'd be sending my kids into school with a phone in case of extreme situations!

***

There are so many things wrong with this......

Even if a teacher is abusing their power, then child can wait until the end of the day and tell their parents about it.

Really?! You think that if a teacher abuses a child then the child can wait a few hours and tell their parents?! Surely that cant really be acceptable to you?

No child ever died in an Irish school in the last 50 years because they were unable to get in instant contact with a parent.

So its only serious if the child dies? Mental and physical abuse doesn't count?

My parents once had to be contacted when I was in school - when I puked all over the table in 3rd class. There was nobody lamenting the fact that they had to walk down the corridor to the principle's office and make a quick phone call.

I'm not talking about situations where a child is ill and the parents are called by the school, I'm talking about situations where the teacher does not do what they should - I went to school with a student who asked to go to the toilet many times and each time was told to be quiet and sit down. He wet himself in his seat, the teacher cleaned up, sat him back down and continued on teaching. This was the same school that I had to leave because another teacher was hurling abuse at me, telling me I was a child of the devil and physically pushing me around.

So these are situations where the school is REFUSING to ring the parents, I would have loved a mobile phone.

beth-lou

grindelwald wrote: »

Im an special case, if my daughter vomits we have to be informed asap, if she vomits 3 times in 2 hours she has to go to hospital to be re hydrated.
The school lacks information about certain illnesses and sometimes calling a parent is the best because a parent will know what to do. The school also have her diabetic nurses number and have contacted her time to time.

were lucky this year our daughters teachers brother is type 1 so he knows a lot about it and is very very understanding.

I think in cases like yours there should be exemptions made or other arrangments.

But the majority of kids don't need a phone while in school.
If they bring one to school it should remain in their locker until home time.
I fully appreciate that parents want their kids to have access to phone for their journey home etc, so talk to your kid, explain the consquences and deal with them if the kid breaks the rule.

Lotsafish

And in 99.99% of cases a child will not need a phone in school. As none of us adults over 30 ever did.

I said its simply not true because there is no way that it can be said that none of the adults over 30 have been in a situation where a mobile phone would have helped (if it had been around then)

beth-lou

Lotsafish wrote: »

Meant to read: Because I'd be sending my kids into school with a phone in case of extreme situations!

***

There are so many things wrong with this......



Really?! You think that if a teacher abuses a child then the child can wait a few hours and tell their parents?! Surely that cant really be acceptable to you?



So its only serious if the child dies? Mental and physical abuse doesn't count?




I'm not talking about situations where a child is ill and the parents are called by the school, I'm talking about situations where the teacher does not do what they should - I went to school with a student who asked to go to the toilet many times and each time was told to be quiet and sit down. He wet himself in his seat, the teacher cleaned up, sat him back down and continued on teaching. This was the same school that I had to leave because another teacher was hurling abuse at me, telling me I was a child of the devil and physically pushing me around.

So these are situations where the school is REFUSING to ring the parents, I would have loved a mobile phone.

So do you think kids should be allowed to use their mobile phone any time they choose in school?

Lotsafish

beth-lou wrote: »

So do you think kids should be allowed to use their mobile phone any time they choose in school?

As I said:

I do agree with the no phone policy during classes and in between classes, but during lunch?!

or immediately after a situation where the child has been wronged, any situation where they need to contact their parents through a medium that is not controlled by the school and therefore subject to the schools idea of what is acceptable to ring home about and what is not.

I have not been arguing that the kids be allowed to run around texting their friends and so on.