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Students, workers split on policy
Adam Bernal/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Stricter rule changes in the Benson School District's new cell phone policy have employees and students at the school split on the issue of whether it is fair for a phone to be confiscated for several days at a time.
With cell phones and other electronic devices becoming a bigger part of students' lives, teachers and administrators have been tackling the growing problem of these items becoming a distraction in the classroom.
Rule changes from the Benson School District ban all student use of portable electronic instruments, communication and other entertainment devices, including cell phones and other items during student study time and passing periods. Students will be allowed to use cell phones before and after school and during the lunch period but they must remain hidden and silent during class.
Students who violate the policy must forfeit the device for a period of five days, with a second offense resulting in a 10-day forfeit and a suspension from class.
Before the changes were made this year, Benson Schools Superintendent David Woodall said the schools had various, less-severe ways of dealing with students who have inappropriately used cell phones, ipods and other electronic devices in class. When these devices were confiscated last year, Woodall said the school typically kept the item until the end of the day or imposed an in-house suspension for repeat offenders.
After reviewing their cell phone policy and looking at how other districts have handled the growing problem, the Benson School District implemented the rule changes this year to mixed reviews.
Woodall acknowledged they've had a number of different responses to the changes, with many parents offering support for stricter rules on cell phone use during class time and others who feel it is not the school's place to be taking phones away.
"We've had parents who have been supportive and other parents who don't feel like we should be confiscating and holding phones," Woodall explained.
Woodall explained the school hasn't had parents disagreeing about cell phones in class, mostly just questioning what the penalty should be. Many parents use cell phones to keep track of their kids and don't necessarily want their phones taken away completely, he added.
Woodall said students are welcome to use their phones before and after school and during lunchtime, but during class time it's strictly prohibited.
Benson High School Principal Bryan Bullington feels the rule changes have been effective in keeping students from using their phones and other devices in the classroom. Before the current policy was implemented, he said there had been a repetition of students' using their devices when they weren't supposed to.
"It was ineffective in curbing their use during instructional time," Bullington said.
For the most part, Bullington said he's received a positive response and has had comments from teachers and even students who felt like it was a good way to keep people on task in class. Students are able to use their devices however they wish before and after school and during lunchtime, so they realistically aren't losing that much talking time.
"They don't lose the opportunity to stay in contact with friends and family, it's just a restriction on when they should use it," Bullington said.
From a teachers and parents perspective, Benson High School teacher Tina Gudvangen said she can see both sides of the issue on why stricter rules may or may not be needed. She said it could be difficult for a parent when their child's main form of communication is taken away but agreed that phones can be an unneeded distraction in class.
Overall, Gudvangen feels the situations may differ from each other and isn't sure if the punishment is fair in each situation.
"I don't know if the punishment can fit every circumstance," Gudvangen said.
Benson Schools Technical Information Specialist Angela Obergh said she supports the idea that phones should be taken away if misused, but would rather see students have other kinds of punishments since many of the phones belong to their parents and aren't theirs to be taken away without condition.
"I agree there should be a consequence, but they shouldn't be taking away personal property," Obergh said.
Benson High School Senior Nick Davis feels the new rules are overkill on the school's part since the phones and other devices are automatically taken away even if they go off accidentally. He said students shouldn't have to worry about their phones being taken away over something that was a mistake.
While not having a big problem with the new rule changes, Junior Michael Vivian believes students should at least be able to use their devices between classes. Being able to use cell phones between classes can make it easier to set up appointments and stay in touch with parents if needed, he said.
Stricter rule changes in the Benson School District's new cell phone policy have employees and students at the school split on the issue of whether it is fair for a phone to be confiscated for several days at a time.
With cell phones and other electronic devices becoming a bigger part of students' lives, teachers and administrators have been tackling the growing problem of these items becoming a distraction in the classroom.
Rule changes from the Benson School District ban all student use of portable electronic instruments, communication and other entertainment devices, including cell phones and other items during student study time and passing periods. Students will be allowed to use cell phones before and after school and during the lunch period but they must remain hidden and silent during class.
Students who violate the policy must forfeit the device for a period of five days, with a second offense resulting in a 10-day forfeit and a suspension from class.
Before the changes were made this year, Benson Schools Superintendent David Woodall said the schools had various, less-severe ways of dealing with students who have inappropriately used cell phones, ipods and other electronic devices in class. When these devices were confiscated last year, Woodall said the school typically kept the item until the end of the day or imposed an in-house suspension for repeat offenders.
After reviewing their cell phone policy and looking at how other districts have handled the growing problem, the Benson School District implemented the rule changes this year to mixed reviews.
Woodall acknowledged they've had a number of different responses to the changes, with many parents offering support for stricter rules on cell phone use during class time and others who feel it is not the school's place to be taking phones away.
"We've had parents who have been supportive and other parents who don't feel like we should be confiscating and holding phones," Woodall explained.
Woodall explained the school hasn't had parents disagreeing about cell phones in class, mostly just questioning what the penalty should be. Many parents use cell phones to keep track of their kids and don't necessarily want their phones taken away completely, he added.
Woodall said students are welcome to use their phones before and after school and during lunchtime, but during class time it's strictly prohibited.
Benson High School Principal Bryan Bullington feels the rule changes have been effective in keeping students from using their phones and other devices in the classroom. Before the current policy was implemented, he said there had been a repetition of students' using their devices when they weren't supposed to.
"It was ineffective in curbing their use during instructional time," Bullington said.
For the most part, Bullington said he's received a positive response and has had comments from teachers and even students who felt like it was a good way to keep people on task in class. Students are able to use their devices however they wish before and after school and during lunchtime, so they realistically aren't losing that much talking time.
"They don't lose the opportunity to stay in contact with friends and family, it's just a restriction on when they should use it," Bullington said.
From a teachers and parents perspective, Benson High School teacher Tina Gudvangen said she can see both sides of the issue on why stricter rules may or may not be needed. She said it could be difficult for a parent when their child's main form of communication is taken away but agreed that phones can be an unneeded distraction in class.
Overall, Gudvangen feels the situations may differ from each other and isn't sure if the punishment is fair in each situation.
"I don't know if the punishment can fit every circumstance," Gudvangen said.
Benson Schools Technical Information Specialist Angela Obergh said she supports the idea that phones should be taken away if misused, but would rather see students have other kinds of punishments since many of the phones belong to their parents and aren't theirs to be taken away without condition.
"I agree there should be a consequence, but they shouldn't be taking away personal property," Obergh said.
Benson High School Senior Nick Davis feels the new rules are overkill on the school's part since the phones and other devices are automatically taken away even if they go off accidentally. He said students shouldn't have to worry about their phones being taken away over something that was a mistake.
While not having a big problem with the new rule changes, Junior Michael Vivian believes students should at least be able to use their devices between classes. Being able to use cell phones between classes can make it easier to set up appointments and stay in touch with parents if needed, he said.
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