Recent comments

Search News & Views

Take our poll

What's the ideal size for high school?

New York school cell phone ban unusual

New York may have better public transportation, restaurants, and sports teams, but Washington, D.C., has at least one thing on us -- kids in the surrounding counties can carry their cell phones to school. The Washington Post today reports that "school boards everywhere are revisiting decade-old bans against portable communication devices in the classroom" because parents and kids view cell phones as a necessity and because fears about how cell phones would undermine discipline and learning simply haven't come true. The last Washington-area school system to allow cell phones in school will finally do so this fall.

Of course, New York isn't like most places, and the mayor and chancellor are holding firm on the cell phone ban, even in the face of City Council opposition. With school starting next week, I haven't heard anything more about which schools will receive cell phone lockers as part of a "compromise" pilot program. Has anyone else?

Please post comments

  • Give specific examples. Tell us why “this school rocks” (or doesn’t)
  • No profanity. No racial or ethnic slurs. No personal attacks
  • Criticism is fine but don’t be nasty.
  • Flag inappropriate comments. (Hover your cursor over comments to see flag)