H.S. Parent wrote on Jun 4, 2008 6:43 AM:This will only work if it is enforced by the teachers. We see how the dress code is enforced "not". My only concern is it is enforced in a fair and equal manner. Which I don't think happens with other rules.

Just Wondering wrote on Jun 4, 2008 6:50 AM:hmmm...I'm confused so there is already a ban from using cell phones during class that isn't working or being enforced. So now you are going to "try" and enforce a rule so NO cell phones are allowed at lunch and break. Sounds like the problem is during class and there is a rule for that why not enforce it. And as far as the parents go to bad, the rule is for the good of the school and is legal so stand up to them. That sounds like an excuse to me.

Suzie wrote on Jun 4, 2008 8:32 AM:How about the schools buying one of the damper devices that is switched on during school hours? That way no one will be able to use cell phones for any reason whatsoever during school hours. Once the last bell sounds and school is dismissed for the day, then the device can be turned off. Parents needing to get a hold of their kids can do it the old fashioned way by using the old landline phone to call in.

ShawnP wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:00 AM:To Suzie,

I wholeheartedly agree with you, but the stupid parents and ACLU would have a cow, "They're trampling on their civil rights." Along with ANY rights there is responsibility and accountability.
When my daughters were in TVHS, they were not allowed (by their mother and I) to even have the cell phone in the school; they had to leave it at home or in the car. If they were caught or we found out they had it in the school, we took it and they lost the privilege for a week or two.

Teacher wrote on Jun 4, 2008 11:01 AM:Other districts in the area will hold the phones over the weekend or up to a week when students get caught with them. People I know from those districts say that is very effective.

EthnicAccountant wrote on Jun 4, 2008 11:04 AM:You know what, if large Fortune 500 companies and government agencies do not allow cell phones into their buildings, then I think the kids can live without them in their class for a few hours too. Stop enabling!!!

Common Sense wrote on Jun 4, 2008 1:25 PM:Let's exercise some common sense people. We are the adults, so we get to make the rules.
Those rules should be clear & they should be enforced consistantly.
If our children don't like those rules, TOO BAD, we don't have to pay for those phones.
If the parents don't like the rules, also TOO BAD. Let those parents send their kids to private school (if & when their kids get suspended repeatedly or permenantly expelled - for breaking the rules).

insider wrote on Jun 4, 2008 3:21 PM:The use of a cell phone jammer, as suggested by Suzie, has been looked into by many teachers. The device is currently illegal to operate, and getting caught doing so may result in an $11,000 fine. There is some device called a disrupter (as opposed to a jammer), but I don't know much about them...

Standing up to parents is difficult, but not impossible with administrative support. This last part is sometimes difficult due to the political nature of their job.

Can You Hear Me Now wrote on Jun 4, 2008 3:40 PM:I wish I had enough ribbons for all you parents for the great job your doing, don't break your arms patting yourselves on the back. There's no stupid parents or ACLU,you fools are up against free wheelin capitalism (fascism) and the deep pockets of AT&T,Verizon,Sprint,and Others, as a collective force to keep the lines open. You don't think these Fortune 500 companies know the effect of keeping your kids OFF the phone?

Still Wondering wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:09 PM:If the rule is there and not being enforced what makes anyone think that by changing the RULE to no cell phones during lunch and break it is going to be any better. I really don't understand the problem, enforce the rules you have before making new ones up.

Another teacher wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:22 PM:Get this - Once when I told a girl to put away the cell phone she had out on her desk, she told me she couldn't because her mother had put her in charge of "babysitting" her little sister who was home sick from school!

Teacher wrote on Jun 4, 2008 8:07 PM:To "still wondering" who can't understand the problem - well, try taking roll while constantly having to stop and mark tardies as students wander in, monitoring everybody's clothes for dress code violations, and continually having to scan and circle the room to look for who has their phone out and who is texting on the sly, who has their hoodie up so they can listen to their mp3 player, and oh, by the way, doing your best to somehow teach a class of thirty-five students for fifty minutes, five times a day. It is multi-tasking to an insane degree, and sometimes you cannot even think straight! The dress code issue for girls falls completely on the shoulders of the female teachers because the male teachers are terrified of the sexual harassment label. I look back incredulously and think the only thing my teachers had to concern themselves with was whether we were whispering or chewing gum in class!

Teacher wrote on Jun 4, 2008 8:37 PM:Too bad admin doesn't enforce the policy when you do write a referral and when you call the parents the kids have the phone in class the very next day. I once caught a kid 5 TIMES in one week. Finally on the referral I asked admin to PLEASE keep the phone until the semester end (in two weeks). They gave it that day to mom and dad who promptly gave it back to their angel.
The safety argument is a joke as well as most kids will cause more harm in an emergency by spreading panic and false information.

SO WHATS THE ANSWER TEACHER wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:44 PM:What do you think will work?

If no rule will be enforced and backed up by admin and parents - the kids win, at their own expense as well.

Is an an outright ban on all cell phones on campus the only answer?

insider wrote on Jun 4, 2008 11:39 PM:to "so what's the answer teacher"

An outright ban on cell phones, again, depends on the willingness of those (us) to enforce the rule.

Jammers, as tempting as they are, kick out a lot of strong RF to knock out the signal, so even if they were legal it might be a health hazard.

Honestly, many of us (me included) get worn down by the scofflaws as we try to keep up with enforcement. Only diligence by all parties can lead to a hope of capitulation on the part of the student user...

insider wrote on Jun 4, 2008 11:42 PM:A tongue-in-cheek answer to "can you hear me now" ...

At TVHS, AT&T doesn't work. Perhaps the solution at that site is to encourage students to switch carriers... ;-)

Teacher wrote on Jun 5, 2008 5:56 AM:There was life before cell phones.

TO Teachers wrote on Jun 5, 2008 6:46 AM:I agree the Admin. needs to have your back on the "RULES" they make. Without them backing you up the students win.

I do feel sorry for our teachers wrote on Jun 5, 2008 6:56 AM:they have to teach in such a different world than what we grew up in. In so many ways, kids today have had to grow up with out parents. Why? Because the parents are both working and not available to their children. Kids are growing up twice as fast and have been taught their rights, by the parents who are not there. I am not teacher, I am a parent who is at school daily volunteering in the classroom, or in a teacher classroom that may need help. What ever the case I AM THERE!! and if for some reason I can't be, then I am close by. Why, because I am the mom and I support my teachers. What the teacher says, is what goes. We need to stop relying on others to take care of our kids.....that is our (the parents) job. As far as the posting about administration enforceing the rules already established, my vote was to clean house and get people in there who care about our kids.

Hmm wrote on Jun 5, 2008 6:59 AM:sounds like a lot of lazy teachers to me. Enforce the rules that are on the books. If it takes too much effort, find another job where there's nothing to complain about. If the students are 'wearing you out' as you claim, you're clearly too burned out to continue teaching in this district.

ROFL wrote on Jun 5, 2008 7:03 AM:Leighty has developed a sense of humor! Parents - call the school and leave an urgent message for your kid and expect it to get delivered in the same week. I'm still laughing! Thanks Leighty, needed a lift for the day

To Teachers wrote on Jun 5, 2008 7:06 AM:Exactly who is the adult here? You allow students to wear the hoodies in your class? Isn't that against school dress code policy. Also, how can students take pictures of the tests if you are monitoring your class as you should be? Do you leave the room while tests are being given or do you sit at your desk? Why don't you try walking around the room while the test is being given? Take control of the scene and the issue and your problems will cease.

Cyberbullying wrote on Jun 5, 2008 7:10 AM:This district is totally clueless. Do you honestly think that cyberbullying only occurs during school hours or is this just another political spin to help your argument? The cyberbullying cases that are making it to the headlines all involve non-school hours and they involve "My-Space". Don't you think that a student that involved in cyberbullying would stand out like a sore thumb spending all day on the phone? That's where the current policy steps in and should be enforced.

John E wrote on Jun 5, 2008 7:49 AM:A classroom ban on cell phone use during class time, enforced by each individual teacher, is the way to go. Students should have full access to their cell phones between classes, during break times, and particularly during emergency situations, such as a campus lockdown or a regional fire or earthquake.

No wonder wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:23 AM:With all this wonderful parent support and respect for teachers, it's no wonder the kids get away with murder!!! ENABLERS!!!!!

CommonSense wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:27 AM:My fiance is a teacher. She tells me of the things that the students attempt to get away with in her classroom. She follows the procedures, but to me, it appears as if the reprimand for the infractions are not severe enough. Then on top of that, the parents are not supporting the teachers and helping to enforce the rules. As for John E, all cellular companies have a rating system, so in the case of emergencies, most of the kids phones wouldn't work anyways, so as to keep the networks open. This allows for emergency responders to be able to use their phones. So that is a no go. If the campus is being locked down for a reason, the kids shouldn't be on their phones anyways. Parents can listen to local news and radio to get updated on what's going on. They don't need to be interfering with their kids or the school who happends to be in the thick of things.

what about.. wrote on Jun 5, 2008 10:47 AM:My daughter has a cell phone at school. She has a chronic illness that causes life threatening symptoms. After trying to get the health aid to help her (who ironically was on the phone) she went into the bathroom where she began her decline. If she had not called me in the time before she collapsed in the bathroom (alone) - she would be dead. And you say there should be "no exceptions?" HOWEVER: she also has been informed not to use it for idle chitchat, texting etc. during school hours.

To mom wrote on Jun 5, 2008 12:29 PM:She used it in the bathroom and for an appropriate reason, not in class at an inappropriate time. These kids blatantly take them out because even if referred get no real consequence and since it is a personal item it is ultimately up to the parent to enforce this. How many of these kids, many of the failing...have ipods, psps, and other "privileges" that should have been taken by parents?

CommonSense wrote on Jun 5, 2008 1:03 PM:Another option would be for the parents to limit the activities that can take place on a child's cell phone. All it would take would be for a parent to buy a phone that doesn't have a camera capability, then ask the cellular company to not allow any texts to or from that particular phone. Additionally, a parent can limit the numbers that the phone can call to or receive calls from. That way, the child would still be able to call the parent as needed and emergency services as needed. As a parent you would be doing a huge service to the teachers by doing all of this.

how did kidssurvive wrote on Jun 5, 2008 2:04 PM:withoutphones in the past? ban cellphnes except for medical cases like the girl with the life threatening disease.

CommonSense wrote on Jun 5, 2008 2:30 PM:Here is the simple answer:
1) Parents, quit buying your children cell phones with the camera capability
2) Call the cellular provider and have the ability to send and receive text messages removed from that phone line
3) While on the line with the cellular provider, ask them to set up the service for your child's phone so that it can only call and receive calls from select numbers (yours and emergency services)

This would be the best way you can support the teachers and still keep you able to have that connection to your children.

Im so sure wrote on Jun 5, 2008 3:41 PM:Like oh my gosh when I was in highschool we didn`t even have cell phones. I vote yes on a mobile phone ban.

No wonder we live in a Nanny State wrote on Jun 5, 2008 4:58 PM:Since some students choose to NOT follow the rules, all must suffer? Why, because administrators choose to NOT enforce the rules we already have?
Why stop at a school board policy or administrative regulation? Why not pass a law? I'd bet you could gather enough signatures to get a prop on an upcoming ballot (because most people don't even know what they're signing).
Come on people, we can teach these kids personal responsibility even if their parents refuse to parent them.
Make clear rules & enforce them consitantly. Break the rules & face the are consequences. Continue to disregard the rules (including respecting authority) & face suspension or expulsion.

HEALTH EFFECT wrote on Jun 5, 2008 5:25 PM:If parents really want to figure out answers on young developing kids using or having cell phones.

There are huge reports to show the long term use of health issues, types of cancers.

First and formost, wouldn't it be grand to save all those monies that are spent on cell phones/minutes and put into the childrens savings.?

Larry King Live just did a Huge Segment on the health issues emerging from studies that are on going and finishing up and we are waiting for results.

Interesting.

Responsible wrote on Jun 5, 2008 5:31 PM:As we have been in the new Techy Era, we have to take responsibilities about this.

If anything, kids growing minds are subject to later health effects.

Its called Electrosmog, even others using cell phones near by are transmitting RF next to others?

Also if anything....These Rules are in Place Others kids, young adults choose to infringe on others learning time there are rules that govern this too.?

The kids who don't go by rules, should be asked to turn off cell phones.

If the problem persists, then the teacher can submit secretly to the Principals office to send a letter to the Parent on behalf of the whole school.

This way it does not give an agressive child a reason to lash out onto individual teachers.

Come on Parents look at all the health facts that are there. Please don't listen to reports from the actuall industry or our own government they all lie for that pretty penny in thier own pockets. Yet we pay the price for our kids health effects later in life! Its up to US.

Grow Up wrote on Jun 5, 2008 6:11 PM:Honestly --haven't the teachers who blog here matured enough to the point that they don't need to call another adult childish names i.e. calling parents 'enablers'? Really - didn't name calling end with your high school years? Also, if you deem the term 'enabler' to label someone who has enough intelligence to disagree with a proposed rule that clearly extends beyond reasonable to stop the abusive activity of a few offenders that you refuse to enforce the current rules on-then yes- I do enable my kid to question authority especially when authority oversteps its rationale boundaries. Not only do I enable them, but I aggressively encourage them to stand up for their rights that the Constitution grants to them as human beings. This includes questioning absurd rules and laws brought about by the hysteria of a few incompentent adults who refuse to enforce current rules.

To Commonsense wrote on Jun 5, 2008 6:28 PM:If you want to trust the safety of your kids to teachers who readily admit that they cannot control of their students during normal class time - best of luck to you and your family in the event of a crisis at school. If you think that the teachers can handle a chaotic situation that is accompanied by hysterical children that can't be controlled under normal circumstances, my prayers and thoughts to you and your family. However, since I know that the teachers here in Temecula cannot handle a chaotic situation coupled with hysterical, emotional kids, I want my kids to have the right to get me on the phone for help and I want the right to get in touch with my kids so that I can help them out, in either a school or family emergency. I certainly can't trust this administration, faculty or staff to look out for the best interests of my kids when they readily admit they have no control of the kids under normal day to day circumstances.

The Truth wrote on Jun 5, 2008 6:36 PM:The real reason behind the cell phone ban is that too many teachers have been caught in compromising situations by student's video cell phones. To avoid any further embarassment, the union has embarked on a campaign to deprive the students of recording the abuse that takes place during school hours. Think about it.

TO CommonSense wrote on Jun 5, 2008 6:53 PM:I still say why not enforce the rule that is already there. Quit complaing about how hard it is to make the students follow the rules. I would think that making students follow rules would be part of a teachers job. I think this is a joke. Why make a tougher rule when the one you have isn't being enforced. Duh......like out and out banning them is going to change anything.

To Grow Up wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:00 PM:Thank you. You proved my point. All the whining parents that enjoy the benefits of a free public eduaction but don't appreciate it have proved my point. It's not about not having control, it's about having to stop a lesson every time one out of thirty eight kids takes out a phone, just to write a referral that the PARENT won't back up. It's interfering with instructional minutes, escalating fights at school, encouraging cheating, and jeopardizing safety as in today's lockdown at CHS where kids start spreading rumors and panic. What about the kid that is texting about security during a lockdown, possibly giving information to a fellow student who may be the suspect? You people send your kids to us for 55 minutes each period and expect us to do with 38 kids in 55 minutes what you havent't been able to do in a lifetime of raising them...and you have NO idea what we are up against each and every day. Please trade places with me for ONE day. You'd have more support and appreciation. If not, please homeschool.

Truth wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:02 PM:I haven't seen any TVUSD teachers on Fox news. Take your conspiracy theories elsewhere.

CHS wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:03 PM:The problem at this site at least is that kids know there is no real follow through. Absences, tardies, dress code, academic dishonesty can all be excused by the admin and usually are.

CommonSense wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:22 PM:Again, I put out there that the parents have to help and support the teachers. Where my fiance teaches it is a little bit different than in the Temecula area, but that still doesn't let the parents in the Temecula area off of the hook. Are you teaching your children to respect authority and to obey the laws or are you encouraging them to act out as "Grow Up" does their kids. Teachers for the most part are trying to enforce the rules, but they get shut down by their highers. I hope and pray that my fiance experiences a more supporting administration down here than she currently does up in Madera Unified. In the end though, if the parent doesn't support the rules that have been put in place by the schools, then the children learn that they don't have to follow the rules and regulations as put in place by authority figures, which in turn flows over to life and society after school. I am not saying that the majority of parents are doing the right thing, but the few does ruin it for the masses.

To TO CommonSense Response wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:35 PM:I have to disagree with you on People Quit complaining about how hard it is to make students follow rules.

Understand a teacher can only go so far to uphold rules, if the student does not conduct the respect to follow the rules and the dealings of not following the rules.
THEN THE PARENTS MUST STEP IN AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, why is it left up to the teachers to correct the bad behavior of a child who can not follow the rules even when the teachers ask students to follow the rules.
The Kids that make this a subject at all are out right DISREPECTFUL, have no respect for the rules in the first place. After that it is merely up to the Parents to Control these mannerisms of the child.
SINCE THIS has not been done, WE HAVE TO ADMINISTRATIVLY ACT...making more stringent rules.

Parents do you child a favor and don't buy them cell phones. My goodness your here and I am sure you didn't go to school with a cell phone glued to your ears or hand-texting???

SO keep complaining and keep trying to do something about it, since the kids and parents are not willing to follow the rules set forth. Isn't that what democracy is all about. Plus who wants to deal with Parents/Kids thinking the teachers have too many rules...that will be next won't it. So please give the schools and other kids trying to learn a break.
Sincerly, not a parent, but a college student!

To HS Parent wrote on Jun 5, 2008 11:39 PM:Your attitude, when you speak about TEACHERS not enforcing dress codes will not enforce phone rules, points out the problem with society today...NO ITS NOT THE TEACHERS, ITS THE PARENTS!!!

If parents would do their jobs the 18 hours a day they raise their children, teachers wouldn't have to play policeman the remaining 6 hours a day the teachers spend with your kids.

If parents did their jobs, there would be no need for dress codes, or phone rules.

JD wrote on Jun 6, 2008 2:59 PM:Why is everybody so quick to attack the teachers? You think they like having kids interrupt class with phones? Get real. If you've never taught a class of any kind, then you have NO idea how difficult it is to manage that many people. I graduated a TVHS 2 years ago, and I could tell you all kinds of stories of stuff I was able to sneak by the teachers when I wanted to. The fact is, students are going to avoid getting caught. Now, if there were more tangible, and serious, repercussions for breaking the rules, then it would decline. But as it is now, students will avoid getting caught most of the time, and not be punished (by admins and parents) the times they are. Stop shifting blame.