Story Created:
Jul 23, 2012
Story Updated:
Jul 23, 2012
The Montgomery County School Board changes its cell phone policy. Now students can use cell phones in the classroom, but some parents are not too happy about it.
Ricky Rogers has three children in the Montgomery Public School System. He worries that a new distraction will be making its way into their classrooms.
"They are going to be too distracted. They are going to be on facebook, texting, maybe even taking pictures," said Rogers.
The Montgomery County School Board approved a change to the school district's cell phone policy. Before cell phones were forbidden. Now they can be used for "instructional purposes", but only in the classroom.
"The world is changing. Everyone is using technology. With all the apps you have on a cell phone, you can use the cell phone in the classroom instructionally, and it's a technique that we don't need to ignore," said Superintendent Barbara Thompson.
"How are the teachers and the administrators going to regulate?" asked Rogers.
Parents like Rogers aren't convinced they will be able to because with today's phones you can go from texting to using a calculator with just one click.
"They aren't supposed to have their phones out at all unless they are instructional. So I think a teacher who is monitoring their classrooms, would be able to walk through the classroom and see who's texting, who's doing what," said Thompson.
Rogers has two children who attend Robert E. Lee High School, which is a school that has failed to meet Adequate Yearly Progress or "AYP" six out of the last seven years, leading to the removal of 118 teachers from the school.
"The academics are suffering now," said Rogers.
So he feels as though now, it's more necessary than ever, that Lee's students eliminate all distractions.
It's not all bad news for parents, who agree that cell phones are good to have in case of an emergency. Superintendent Barbara Thompson says that was also a factor that played into the decision.
Thompson says the new policy can be modified when problems arise.
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Taylor said on Thursday, Jan 31 at 5:43 PM
it's ok but we like devices to play through out the day when were bored ok
112623012boss said on Monday, Jul 23 at 10:33 PM
yes i am happy
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