Cell phone

[jwoosley]

My daughter ( a senior) called me using her cell phone because she was sick and wanted me to pick her up from school. She did have strep. She was given permission by her study hall monitor to use her cell phone during a study hall which there were no other students in. However, the handbook states that cell phone use is prohibited. Now the issue is that the school wants to make an example out her and give her detention. In 12 years of school she has never been in trouble. The other thing is the secretary took it upon herself to threaten my daughter that "when you return to school we will deal with this issue!" I'm not positive that the secretary has any authority whatsoever. The other issue I'm having problems with is that a school official did give her permission. I think that telling her the policy and informing her not to do it again is enough. The school has much bigger issues than whether or not my child used her cell phone. Can I fight this?

 

[Silverplum]

My daughter ( a senior) called me using her cell phone because she was sick and wanted me to pick her up from school. She did have strep. She was given permission by her study hall monitor to use her cell phone during a study hall which there were no other students in. However, the handbook states that cell phone use is prohibited. Now the issue is that the school wants to make an example out her and give her detention. In 12 years of school she has never been in trouble. The other thing is the secretary took it upon herself to threaten my daughter that "when you return to school we will deal with this issue!" I'm not positive that the secretary has any authority whatsoever. The other issue I'm having problems with is that a school official did give her permission. I think that telling her the policy and informing her not to do it again is enough. The school has much bigger issues than whether or not my child used her cell phone. Can I fight this?

On what grounds? That she was given permission to break a school rule? Is the "study hall monitor" a student, or a teacher, or what? Is that person willing to go to the school authorities and take responsibility?

Where's the cell supposed to be kept? (For example: it's to be kept in the car/at home/in the locker?)

 

[jwoosley]

The study hall monitor is actually a teacher. The cell phone can be kept in their bookbags, the handbook is not specific in this detail.

 

[Silverplum]

The study hall monitor is actually a teacher. The cell phone can be kept in their bookbags, the handbook is not specific in this detail.

I'm sure others will chime in, but my "advice" is to ask that teacher/monitor to speak up on her behalf.

 

[mommyof4]

And what reason was given that she could not go to the school nurse (or if no nurse on duty, the office) and call you from there so that the school KNEW she was ill and that you were coming to pick her up?

That's the pretty standard protocol. Kid doesn't feel well, goes to the nurse. If Kid is ill, office calls parent to come pick up Kid. Normally, Kid doesn't call Mom from study hall to come get her.

 

[jwoosley]

I am an RN and pretty sure that my critical care experience far outweighs lice checks and runny noses!

 

[Silverplum]

I am an RN and pretty sure that my critical care experience far outweighs lice checks and runny noses!

Sure, that has everything to do with violating the school rule against cell phone usage.



I'm sure Dainty Miss Strep didn't have the strength to drag herself from study hall to office. She had to use her cell, can't you all see the truth?

 

[Zigner]

In 12 years of school she has never been in trouble.

Correction: In 12 years of school, she has been in trouble once.

 

[Mass_Shyster]

I think that telling her the policy and informing her not to do it again is enough. The school has much bigger issues than whether or not my child used her cell phone. Can I fight this?

You probably can fight this. A better question to ask is should you fight this.

Did your daughter know she wasn't supposed to use her cell phone?

Will she learn a valuable lesson by accepting the consequences for her actions?

Will she learn that life isn't always fair?

Is a detention really that bad of a punishment?

Do you think the school may have a point, that the rules apply to everyone?

Or should she grow up looking for someone else to blame when something goes wrong?

 

[mommyof4]

I am an RN and pretty sure that my critical care experience far outweighs lice checks and runny noses!

What's that got to do with your rule breaking, detention bound daughter and the fact that she just couldn't go to the nurses office? Who said ANYTHING about lice checks and runny noses?

 

[lealea1005]

I am an RN and pretty sure that my critical care experience far outweighs lice checks and runny noses!

How arrogant! Excuse me Ms. Critical Care RN, but a School Nurse's (especially for middle & high school) experience and expertise also far outweighs lice checks and runny noses. Try it on for size for a couple of days. You'll go running back to CCU.

(Sorry seniors, just had to...carry on )

 

[Perky]

How arrogant! Excuse me Ms. Critical Care RN, but a School Nurse's (especially for middle & high school) experience and expertise also far outweighs lice checks and runny noses. Try it on for size for a couple of days. You'll go running back to CCU.

I agree... How arrogant! Even in our elementary school, our nurse cares for students with serious medical conditions that require intervention.

(Sorry seniors, just had to...carry on )

Not a senior, but I'm glad you did!

Oh, and here it is again:

In 12 years of school she has never been in trouble.

Just because a child hasn't caused any discipline problems in the past, she should be allowed to break the rules?

 

[stealth2]

Did your daughter know she wasn't supposed to use her cell phone?

I would be willing to bet my paycheck that daughter dearest (as well as Mom/Dad) knew the cell phone policy. There is little doubt that it is included in the student handbook that parents AND student were to read - and sign that they read and understood what was in it.

I have 2 in HS. They both know that - should they EVER use their cell during school hours - there will be consequences from me. I expect their phones to be, at a minimum, off during the school day. If they are sick, they are to go to the nurse or the office and I will be called from there. The ONLY time I'd be cool with cell phone usage while in school would be if they were in a Columbine situation. But just 'cause they didn't feel well? Come on.

And the snide comment about school nurses? THAT was professional.

 

[cyjeff]

Here is what I keep coming back to.

OP, you should be telling your daughter that all actions have reactions. There ARE crimes that are worth the punishment.

In other words, I would be glad to pick my daughter up from school... but just as glad to pick her up from detention for breaking a school rule because she was too lazy to go to the school office.

You haven't yet told us what about her condition merited the saving of 3 minutes that justified the breaking of the cell phone rule.

Further, if her conditioned was so weakened that she could not walk to the school office, did you call an ambulance?

Schools are continually plagued by students finding "very good" reasons to use a cell phone throughout the day. I say this as the loving husband of a high school teacher as well as the above high schooler living under my roof. Very good reasons have included, but not limited to, everything from talking someone into bringing a lunch or a change of clothes to trying to buy concert tickets.

Most schools have zero tolerance on cell phones. There are phones in the office.

 

[cyjeff]

I would be willing to bet my paycheck that daughter dearest (as well as Mom/Dad) knew the cell phone policy. There is little doubt that it is included in the student handbook that parents AND student were to read - and sign that they read and understood what was in it.

I have 2 in HS. They both know that - should they EVER use their cell during school hours - there will be consequences from me. I expect their phones to be, at a minimum, off during the school day. If they are sick, they are to go to the nurse or the office and I will be called from there. The ONLY time I'd be cool with cell phone usage while in school would be if they were in a Columbine situation. But just 'cause they didn't feel well? Come on.

And the snide comment about school nurses? THAT was professional.

Strange you should mention Columbine....

We have two high schools very near each other hear. One of the students of school "A" hid a handgun in a ceiling panel (and was found to have several other weapons at his home.... thank God it wasn't worse)... but was stopped.

Instantly, that school went into lockdown.... and the text messages and cell phone calls started. Within an hour, the elementary schools, intermediate and junior high schools in the area had also been locked down and news reports had spun WAY out of proportion.

Not just from the students... but also teachers. It got so bad that PARTS of school "B" went into lockdown depending upon whom heard what rumor.

Unfortunately, I believe that if Columbine would happen again, kids having cell phones wouldn't HELP the situation as much as muddy the waters for the responders.