Laptops, computers, DS, cellular phones and more technology equipment is used and being developed everyday to improve our lifes. With it also comes risks and common sense rules. Recently some kids at Brewer were suspended for comments made at home on their computer regarding another school and sports team. While this wasn't the brightest thing they could have done, in my mind it is protected speech. It wasn't on school property, school time or school equipment. If this is the case maybe the school teachers unions should be posting comments about budget cuts or such material. There is a supreme court case ruling in favor of protected speech by public employee - the same holds true in this case.
Now on to cellular phones, they are a fact of life, at school, home, work and just about everywhere we go. There are signs about phone use in hospitals and work places. Work places are now stepping up to restrict use during the day work hours, especially in texting. How many meetings have you been to that someones phone rings?
I agree that cell phones are valuable and can be life saving, but some rules in schools should apply. Trying to find your kid, leave a note for after school, learning where your child or how they are getting home is critical, especially when both parents are working. But SAD63 has not kept pace with the modern world and has double standards on cellular phones. I agree kids should not be allowed to have the phone ON during class, but during break, recess, lunch or at end of day should be allowed to listen to messages or receive a text from home. If bus drivers, staff and teachers can have them on and use them, even stopping class to take a call. Then limited use by kids should be allowed. What is really nice is to listen or watch the records kids do on the bus of activities or words. Most phones take pictures, video and record. You would be suprised by some of the language used.
Then there is the restriction on certain drinks in class. If the child can not have AZ ice tea, then the teacher should not have one in class and drink it in front of the kids. This really is mixed messages.
As part of budget cuts cameras were removed from the bus. Not a day goes by without some type of incident, yet there is no tape, just an empty camera box. There is no way to tell if the bus is moving without kids seated, if brakes are slammed on to get attention, how is jumping around, pushing, fighting and such. We put all this security in place to lock down the school - lets face it, if you want in, just arrive early, late or wait for someone to come out - but no security on the bus holding 45 kids. Is this a good priority?
