בין שתי ערים

After months of outrage over a ban on cell phones in the nation’s largest school system, officials are now signaling that there may be room for compromise.

They are exploring whether to install special lockers outside schools to store the devices, a development that delayed recent court arguments on the ban.

I already have teachers using cell phones to call parents and or have students call parents regarding homework of forgotten band instruments. (This in a school where we have only 3 outside lines and none of them available from a teacher’s classroom…) I think it is only a short time before my teachers realize that by using some pretty unobtrusive (email to SMS gateways…) tools they will be able to connect with their students/families to remind them of assignments or inform them of events related to class work. I must say I’m very proud of my staff. They embrace the change because many are parents themselves, and they see the benefit of this type of communication. Of course there will be issues and concerns, but there are with just about anything. Teach responsible use and deal with those that are irresponsible just as you would do with any other rule or procedural violation. I’m also proud of my students. To date we have not had any issues with inappropriate mobile phone use.