The cellphone ban at Wellesley High has some students up in arms, and a Student Congress rep said at a recent School Committee meeting that students are looking to work with administrators to clarify/revise the policy. Students argue that aside from using the phones for social purposes they need the devices to stay in touch with parents, coordinate with fellow students about study planning, etc., though administrators see the phones as a distraction and possible cheating tool.
The rule, from the student handbook:
Cellular phones must be turned off and be out of sight during the school day (7:30 am to 2:30 pm). Cell phones, if used, including texting, will be confiscated until the end of the day and one detention assigned for the first offense. Consequence for the second offense will result in retention of the cell phone by the student’s Assistant Principal for two weeks and two detentions assigned. (See Infractions-Category A). There is a phone in the Main Office that students are welcomed to use to call their parents or guardian when needed.
The policy also got the attention of a new online student forum dubbed The Radford, which plays off the name of the official Wellesley High School newspaper/website, The Bradford. The Radford concludes that in stripping students of the latest in telecom technology during school hours: “We’ll just end up like the Amish.”
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