Middle school policies prohibit cell phones

School Administrative Unit 2 Superintendent Mary Moriarty, who oversees the Inter-Lakes and Ashland school districts, is typical of Lakes Region administrators when it comes to governing the use of cellular telephones.

“The expectation is that students’ cell phones are turned off and put away during the school day,” she said.

Laconia’s policy not only requires that cell phones be turned off from the time a student enters the school building, it also stipulates that they must be locked in student lockers. They may be used only after the last bell of the school day unless the student receives specific permission, and no texting is allowed during the school day.

Other schools have similar prohibitions, but, in Gilford, the policy is a little more fluid. The student handbook states, “Cell phones are not permitted by students during class time without adult permission. Parent/child communication is an important part of the developing adolescent. Gilford Middle School has phones available for student/parent communication during the school day. Phones and devices are allowed to be used during non-academic times (recess, hallways, and cafeteria). Cell phones/communication devices may never be used in either bathrooms or locker rooms. ...

“The use of any device to take pictures or videos including cell phones and other communication devices is prohibited without the prior permission of the administration.”

There is an ongoing debate over how appropriate it is for middle school students to have cellular telephones, with students at Oyster River Middle School in Durham using cell phones and tablets to keep track of their homework and serve as pocket reference libraries. There, teachers say it is a matter of keeping the students from getting distracted by their devices, just as they have to pry students away from other distractions.

While the discussion is similar to earlier debates over the use of calculators in the classroom, schools in the Lakes Region are in general agreement about prohibiting the use of cell phones during school hours.

Parents often have their children carry cell phones so they can be in contact when necessary, especially if the student is involved in sports or other after-school activities. It also can be comforting to know the student has a phone in the event of an emergency.

However, parents, too, are in agreement with the policies, and have not raised major objections.

“Students and parents have been understanding and generally supportive of cell phones off and away during the day,” said Inter-Lakes Middle School Principal Everett Bennett.

The New Hampshire School Boards Association, which provides sample policies for school districts to use as templates for their own policies, is very clear about its preference to strictly prohibit not only cell phones but also beepers and “other similar electronic communication devices” during the school day.

“The Board recommends that these devices not be brought to school,” the sample policy states. “The contents of an electronic communication device may be searched to determine ownership or to identify emergency contacts. Upon reasonable suspicion that a school rule or the law has been violated through the use of such a device, an administrator may also search for evidence of suspected wrongdoing. Any refusal on the part of a student to comply with a request to surrender the device may result in disciplinary action.”

The policy goes on to say, “The Board may grant an exception to this policy for medical or emergency reasons only. This exception requires a written report from the student’s medical provider explaining the need for the exception.”