January 6, 2015

Cell phones will now be allowed in New York City High Schools. I taught High School in the city where students brought cell phones to school mostly to socialize. I've read about schools under siege where students used cell phones to call for help - saving lives and reassuring parents, such as the hostage seize outside of Paris on Friday. I've had a cell phone since the 1990's as a safety measure, and would never leave home without it. Students and parents should be able to keep in touch with each other in case of emergencies or change of plans. On the downside, students use cells phones to cheat on exams, to bully others, for drug and other criminal activities. The good outweighs the bad.