The Churchville-Chili School District has approved their plan to allow students to use cell phones for instructional and non-instructional purposes at school. In a sparsely attended meeting Monday night, the school board voted to allow students in grades 7th through 12th the ability to use the devices but with some stipulations.
The school plans to adopt a "stop-light" program which will tell students when cell phone use is allowed and not allowed. Teacher's will also have discretion in their class rooms if students are allowed to use their cell phones.
Few parents showed up for the meeting and only one spoke in opposition of the proposal.
Rene Turton, a parent who was at the meeting, believes that the cell phones could potentially be a bigger distraction than benefit to the students. She says, "I would say that's what computers are for. Computers in the class make more sense to me than having a child dependent on their cell phone."
But students think that there can be a benefit to phones in class. Alexa Turton, a student, says, "I think it would be a good opportunity. But I think it might be a distraction. But I think for like Google, to search for an answer, could be used for a learning purpose."
The school board originally wanted to allow 5th and 6th graders the ability to use phones, but subsequently amended the proposal to include just 7th-12th graders. The district has previously voted to allow students to use e-readers during school. The proposal will also allow students to use laptops, netbooks, and tablets.
The board planned to discuss the idea with parents Monday night and vote on the proposal at a later date, but elected instead to vote Monday night.
The Churchville-Chili School District has approved their plan to allow students to use cell phones for instructional and non-instructional purposes at school. In a sparsely attended meeting Monday night, the school board voted to allow students in grades 7th through 12th the ability to use the devices but with some stipulations.
The school plans to adopt a "stop-light" program which will tell students when cell phone use is allowed and not allowed. Teacher's will also have discretion in their class rooms if students are allowed to use their cell phones.
Few parents showed up for the meeting and only one spoke in opposition of the proposal.
Rene Turton, a parent who was at the meeting, believes that the cell phones could potentially be a bigger distraction than benefit to the students. She says, "I would say that's what computers are for. Computers in the class make more sense to me than having a child dependent on their cell phone."
But students think that there can be a benefit to phones in class. Alexa Turton, a student, says, "I think it would be a good opportunity. But I think it might be a distraction. But I think for like Google, to search for an answer, could be used for a learning purpose."
The school board originally wanted to allow 5th and 6th graders the ability to use phones, but subsequently amended the proposal to include just 7th-12th graders. The district has previously voted to allow students to use e-readers during school. The proposal will also allow students to use laptops, netbooks, and tablets.
The board planned to discuss the idea with parents Monday night and vote on the proposal at a later date, but elected instead to vote Monday night.
