Du Quoin Schools Take New Stab at Controlling Cell Phones

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Cell phones, again, top the list of back to school supplies as teachers and students prepare to draw their lines in the sand on cell phones in our schools.

It was the subject of educational planning committees this summer, and it's the subject of new language in the student handbooks being distributed throughout the district.

But, when all is said and done it gets down to teacher discretion on deciding when enough is enough.

"The worst problem we have is parents calling students during class time," said Du Quoin Community Unit District 300 superintendent Dr. Gary Kelly. Beyond that, it's an annoying ring tone going off in class or the obvious "texting" of a message under a desk or from a sweater pocket. Cell phones are as common as ball point pens and pocket calculators and are nearly impossible to fully police.

Administrators and teachers will be looking for the felonies first and foremost--using cell phones to text test answers in class, inappropriate use of cell phone cameras in the halls or around the locker rooms and certainly anything that hints of substance abuse trafficking.

Here's how the 2008 District 300 handbooks address cell phones under the heading of "Electronic Devices."

"Students may not use or possess electronic signaling (paging) devices or two-way radios on school property at any time, unless the building principal specifically grants permission.

With respect to cell phones, the handbook states: "The possession and use of cell phones and other electronic devices, other than paging devices and two-way radios are subject to the following rules:

1. They must be kept out of sight in an inconspicuous location, such as a backpack, purse or locker.

2. They must be turned off during the regular school day unless the supervising teacher grants permission for them to be used or if needed during an emergency.

3. They may not be used in any manner that will cause disruption to the educational environment or will otherwise violate student conduct rules.

Electronic study aides like tape recorders, palm pilots and laptop computers may be used with teacher permission. Hand held games, CD players, MP3 layers, global positioning systems (GPS), radios and cell phones are not considered study aids.