@A SCHOOL QUESTION!!!!!!@

It is my personal opinion that cell phones SHOULD be allowed to be carried at school, and just restricted for use in class. For younger children I can't see that it would be necessary, but for kids in highschool I feel different. A lot of kids who carpool, or have after school activities need to have a way of communicating with people. At my highschool (years ago) we were permitted the use of pay phones, and we'd have to waste 30 min. standing in line to make a quick call..we'd miss lunch just because we needed to use the phone...ridiculous. Not to mention, parents buy their kids cell phones for a reason, and I believe it should be up to the person paying the cell bill where the cell phone goes. I don't disagree with the fact that it could be a problem if the privilege was abused. If I were you I would get a group of students together (student council members would be ideal) and start making a realistic list of the reasons why students really do need to be permitted to carry their phones. Then, come up with what would be a (stern) punishment for abuse of the privilege . I recommend weeks worth of detention, or possibly a service to the school that can be done outside of regular school hours, much like community service works...waste a teacher's time while on your phone, then they get to waste your time. Once you've done that write a petition for your classmates to sign ( you'd need at least half the school), stating that they are in complete agreement to suffer the consequences if they use their phone in class. It would be ideal if you could get parents and faculty signatures as well. When you feel like you've built a good case, set up a meeting with your principle and present him/her with the information you've gathered. Don't expect him/her to change the way they run their school, but suggest a trial period for allowing the phones on campus. If it goes well, maybe your principle will allow it permanently. . I wish you luck, I really think that it will be a lesson in responsibility for you and your peers.