School Sued after Taking Phone from Student

[johnnymk]

Silly parents

http://www.wsbtv.com/education/10342633/detail.html?treets=atl&tid=2657805764813&tml=atl_12pm&tmi=atl_12pm_1_11000311172006&ts=H

School officials in Lone Grove, Okla., confiscated a student's cell phone, and now they may be in trouble with police.

Parents have gone to police to file charges of larceny against two school officials.

A student at Lone Grove High School took the phone to school and it rang in the middle of class, according to Oklahoma TV station KTEN. After the class interruption, the teacher confiscated the phone and took it to the principal's office. School policy is to hold the phone for five days, but the student's mother told the TV station that isn't good enough. Yvonne Walker wants her son to have the phone in case of emergency.

The 16-year-old's parents said they got the phone for the teen so that he could contact them -- saying that it's not helping him for school officials to have the phone.

When school officials said that they couldn't break policy or make special considerations for anyone, the parents called police. The officer sent to the scene filed a report, which is now at the district attorney's office for consideration of larceny charges.

"I understand that they need to discipline the kids and he was wrong, and he understands that he was wrong and he should be disciplined at home, and we will do that," Walker said.

The boy's father said that even though the superintendent said that he couldn't break school policy, parents and the student should have the right to go and pick up their cell phone.

Superintendent Gary Scott told the local TV station that the school board approves school policies in the handbook every year, and that school officials don't make exceptions to the rules for anyone. The policy says that wireless telecommunications devices are not allowed at school during school hours and that confiscated objects are kept for five days.

That policy has been in effect for two years. Scott said although they have taken away several cell phones, this is the first time police have been called

[Mommypooh]

I think as long as the school has payphones inside or at least allow students to use the phone when nesscary I don't see why kids need cell phones. I don't think anyone under the age of 18 should have a cell phone, and even then all it does is cause more problems. My 14 year old brother has one and I tell my mother on a regular basis he dosen't need it. The school has payphones inside he can carry a quarter and call her. They plan to give my 7 year old brother a phone next year and I am pissed. I think it is stupid for a kid to have a cell phone. My kids won't have one period.

I think the school has every right to take away the phone and hold it for 5 days. the parents knew this at the begingingo fteh year. Read the handbook.

[zenbooty]

School should have no right to hold a student's property any longer than the end of the day. Give it back to him then and tell him not to bring it anymore. Simple as that.

[MikeD]

School should have no right to hold a student's property any longer than the end of the day. Give it back to him then and tell him not to bring it anymore. Simple as that.

:stupid:

C'mon, they can't hold his property. That's crap.

I like the policy, though. Kid doesn't need the phone during school. What "emergency" is the kid going to get in while sitting in class? :rolleyes:

[chrissy]

I agree, EOD is long enough. I would be pissed if the school held on to my daughter's cell.

As for what type of emergency, there has been no less than 5 lock downs since school started this year alone. 2 I know were guns on campus. I would want her to call me if she could - or text. She has friends, who as a group have codes for if they are separated they know where they can meet up - and no sounds on text messages incase one is hiding. That's kinda scary to think that my 12 year old and her friends have thought this through.

Audrey goes to school half way across town. And with the shortage of bus drivers this year, there are several days when her bus is running VERY late (as late as an hour) and she calls to let us know. she also calls if the bus has been hit (has happened twice - different drivers and both times rear-ended). She does call for other "important teen issues" like if she can stay at a friend's house etc, but that is a given.

We have rules, her phone is off or silent during school hours -- if it is on and she is caught, she deserves the punishment. She is a very responsible young girl who reminds me that she will be a teenager in 6 months every chance she can. But you can't tell this from the bedroom she keeps :hmm:

[KIISQueen]

I agree! They have no right to take the student's cell unless he was mis using it, it any way. Why do they need to hold on to it for 5 days? At my daughter's school, if they are caught using their cells during school hours, They do take it away but it's only for that day and It's given back. I would be very upset If this situation happend to us.

My husband and I gave our 13 year old a cell for emergency purposes as well! Now a days with awful things happening at schools, I want her to be able to have her contact us If something does happend.

[welfareloser]

my kids are getting cell phones as soon as they're old enough to be responsible with them :shrug: as for what could happen while they're in school - all KINDS of crap. on top of the same disasters that can happen anywhere else, school officials can screw up and put a kid on the wrong bus, lock him in a building after hours because they didn't know he was there, refuse to help a kid who's having a genuine medical emergency because they're stupid or don't believe his complaints, etc.

and if the school isn't going to acknowledge that yeah, they kinda are overstepping their bounds by keeping it for a week, then the police were, in fact, the proper recourse for the parents. just because they're a school and they've always done it doesn't mean it's actually legal :shrug:

and for goodness' sakes, so the cell phone rang. oops. if he was answering it, or it was habitual, fine, confiscate it. i'm betting he forgot it was on, and immediately switched it off the minute it started ringing. and it's not like we haven't all made a similar mistake at one time or another; yet we beat up on a kid for doing the same sh** we all do.

[MikeD]

as for what could happen while they're in school - all KINDS of crap. on top of the same disasters that can happen anywhere else, school officials can screw up and put a kid on the wrong bus, lock him in a building after hours because they didn't know he was there, refuse to help a kid who's having a genuine medical emergency because they're stupid or don't believe his complaints, etc.

Weren't these risks also prevalent when we were kids? Yet we made it through the system OK (well, most of us did) ;)

I just don't see the argument of "...in case there is an emergency". There can always be an emergency. In school, kids are surrounded by adults, by teachers and administrative staff. I trust them to take care of my kids in the best possible way in a time of crisis.

The chance of something happening with a phone (disrupting the class, starting a fight, god knows what) greatly outweigh the chance that your kid will need it in case something goes wrong anyhow. :thumbdown

[Napoleon54]

Weren't these risks also prevalent when we were kids? Yet we made it through the system OK (well, most of us did) ;)

I just don't see the argument of "...in case there is an emergency". There can always be an emergency. In school, kids are surrounded by adults, by teachers and administrative staff. I trust them to take care of my kids in the best possible way in a time of crisis.

The chance of something happening with a phone (disrupting the class, starting a fight, god knows what) greatly outweigh the chance that your kid will need it in case something goes wrong anyhow. :thumbdown

:agree:

Kids get way too much coddling these days. Gen Xers are turning out to be really sh*tty parents IMO.

[PlayBoyWorld]

I just don't like the message that this is giving the kid. Nowadays we see so many parents running to the cops, or to file a lawsuit, when something doesn't go their way. What are we teaching our kids? How about recognizing the fact that he shouldn't have had his phone on, let him learn his lesson, and move on?

[Devhux]

While I agree with kids not needing cell phones, I also agree it's stupid that the school is taking the phone away for 5 days. Let's take another analogy here:

What would happen if a person's cell phone rang in a movie theater, and the ushers came and took the phone away for 5 days? While everyone else in the theater would be greatful, the owners of the theater, or the ushers themselves, would be charged, just like the school is.

Considering that the kid's parents are paying for that cell phone, I see no reason why they don't have the right to press charges as they have done.

[GraingerGuy]

What would happen if a person's cell phone rang in a movie theater, and the ushers came and took the phone away for 5 days? While everyone else in the theater would be greatful, the owners of the theater, or the ushers themselves, would be charged, just like the school is.
If your cell rings in the a courtroom, they will take it away no questions asked and keep it.

If it's in the rules, in the handbook, and it's been an established rule for a couple years, then I think the school is well within its bounds to enforce that rule. By taking the student to that school, the parent(s) and student are also agreeing to the rules in the handbook. If it had been just this one student and they were picking on him/her, then I could see the police getting invovled. However, The student knew the risks of taking the phone in the classroom and therefore should be held responsible for it.

[Memo]

School shouldn't keep property for more than 5 days.

Kid should not have had phone/ringer on.

Parent is over-reacting by filing lawsuit.

OK, that's over with.

Now what's up with people thinking kids should not have cell phones. Kids and adults have the exact same reason for owning a cell phone: immediate, direct contact. I can thinking of numerous occasions in which having a cell phone in school would be great. Not many other relationships truly require direct,immediate contact as often as Parent/Child.

[MikeD]

I can thinking of numerous occasions in which having a cell phone in school would be great. Not many other relationships truly require direct,immediate contact as often as Parent/Child.

Kids go to school to learn. To gain an education. Not to talk on the phone.

When my kids are in school, I don't want to talk to them. I don't need to talk them. They don't need to talk to me. They should be plenty busy with their school work.

As for emergencies: already covered that above.

[ray]

If the kids aren't of driving age, I don't think they need a cell phone. my 2 cents.

[jaja]

Well, if parents really need their kids to have cell w/ them, they need to educate their kids by following school's law. They can only turn on the cell when they are off school. If parents have anything urgent, they can always call school or leave message on the cell. On the other hand, there's no reason for school for holding students' properties for so long. End of the day should be more than enough.

[johnnymk]

I don't understand this so-called "need" for people to have contact with everyone on the planet 24/7.

To me it's some kind of separation anxiety or some other kind of illness. I am sure that the psychologists have an answer for it.

I have a Virgin Mobile cell phone which I use a few times a year. People lived without them years ago and now all of a sudden we "need" them

Amazing!!

[zenbooty]

I don't understand this so-called "need" for people to have contact with everyone on the planet 24/7.

To me it's some kind of separation anxiety or some other kind of illness. I am sure that the psychologists have an answer for it.

I have a Virgin Mobile cell phone which I use a few times a year. People lived without them years ago and now all of a sudden we "need" them

Amazing!!
You will be assimilated yet :borg:

[Prngr44]

The rule's been in effect for 2 years. If students or parents were so outraged about it, where was the reaction when it was put in place? Everyone knew the rule, knew the restrictions, knew the consequences.

If you agree or don't agree with it, it doesn't change anything. It's still the rule!

I personally hope the school doesn't back down (if they even still have the phone in their possession.) Now if they want to revisit the rule as a result of this, that's fine. Get the parents up to a board meeting and voice their opinions.

[gwilks98]

I can remember my school taking stuff outright if it wasn't allowed and never giving it back, but a cell phone can be kind of important.

And sorry parents, but I don't agree with this at all:
""I understand that they need to discipline the kids and he was wrong, and he understands that he was wrong and he should be disciplined at home, and we will do that," Walker said.
"
That's just BS.
So if your 16 year old son does something inappropriate at work, they're supposed to let the parent do the disciplining? Besides, there are so many parents who don't discipline at home anyway, so what's a poor school to do?


The only thing I would suggest for the school is the change the policy to force the parents to come pick it up in person.

[PlayBoyWorld]

I would want to know if any other kids have had their phones taken away from them, and how their parents handled the situation. If this is a case of one set of parents going overboard, while the rest understood and respected the rules, why should the school have to change them?

[Burzhui]

I think as long as the school has payphones inside or at least allow students to use the phone when nesscary I don't see why kids need cell phones. I don't think anyone under the age of 18 should have a cell phone, and even then all it does is cause more problems. My 14 year old brother has one and I tell my mother on a regular basis he dosen't need it. The school has payphones inside he can carry a quarter and call her. They plan to give my 7 year old brother a phone next year and I am pissed. I think it is stupid for a kid to have a cell phone. My kids won't have one period.

I think the school has every right to take away the phone and hold it for 5 days. the parents knew this at the begingingo fteh year. Read the handbook.

ok that is the stupidest thing! As long as schools have pay lunches kids shouldn't be allowed to bring their own in. You shouldn't be allowed to have a car, if there is public transportation available. it works :rolleyes: .

Kids travel, not all communities have school busses, most city schools give out metro cards so kids can get to school. A lot of crap can happen to a kid on the way from and to school and they shouldn't spend time searching for a phone if they can readily have one.

[cheapie]

my kids are getting cell phones as soon as they're old enough to be responsible with them :shrug:

ummmm....just make sure it's not any sort of shape that will accomodate a johnson-sized object or i'm sure we'll be reading about it on your blog. :heh:

[welfareloser]

ummmm....just make sure it's not any sort of shape that will accomodate a johnson-sized object or i'm sure we'll be reading about it on your blog. :heh:

hey, i never said what age they'd be responsible enough. my money's on 27. give or take ;)

[welfareloser]

Weren't these risks also prevalent when we were kids? Yet we made it through the system OK (well, most of us did) ;)

most of us did... some of us didn't. why should i feel bad about an extra layer of safety for my kids? simply because it *could* be used frivolously? if a kid is using it frivolously, by all means, take it away. i see no mention of the kid being a repeat offender, or even attempting to talk on it at school. sounds like he forgot to turn the ringer off once. big freakin deal. the shaking of the fist at the overindulgent parents and bratty kid seems woefully misplaced here.

i gave my kid a watch last year. he kept screwing with it in class. he got it taken away. i didn't let him wear it to school anymore. he got it back this school year. he doesn't mess with it any more. simple. "WHY DO KIDS NEED A WATCH ANYWAY?" is just as silly and misplaced a question as "WHY DO THEY NEED A CELL PHONE?" they don't "need" a cell phone... or school. or anything beyond air, water and food. that's not the point. the parents decided they wanted their kid to have one.

and of course all of us standing here alive today made it through the system... you're not hearing any "ayes" from those of us who got nabbed by a stranger on the way home from school, tho :P


I just don't see the argument of "...in case there is an emergency". There can always be an emergency.

and we have safety features galore to help in emergencies. a cell phone is one of those safety features. it's as useful in a school as it is in a car or office or mcdonalds during an emergency. railing about a *kid* having one in a *school* seems silly.


In school, kids are surrounded by adults, by teachers and administrative staff. I trust them to take care of my kids in the best possible way in a time of crisis.

just because i trust myself to drive in the best possible way doesn't mean i don't give my kids seat belts.

and not everybody can trust their teachers and administrators. i think the ones at EG's school are pretty good, but they've lost a kid or two here and there - wrong bus, went home with a friend, whatever. it happens. don't pretend a cell phone could never possibly help.


The chance of something happening with a phone (disrupting the class, starting a fight, god knows what) greatly outweigh the chance that your kid will need it in case something goes wrong anyhow. :thumbdown

god knows what is right. i sure as heck can't think of much that could go wrong, beyond disruption. the second it rings, the teacher can take it away, turn off the ringer, it's done. give it back at the end of the day, and if it happens again, the kid can't have it in school any more. no big deal. honestly, a fart is far more disruptive. of course a disruption is more likely than a disaster... it's more likely that i will "waste" my $500 a year on car insurance than that i will need to file a claim. funny, i keep paying that premium, tho, just in case. that's the whole point.

i don't see the point in poking fun at the parents for being sue-happy. that's the only recourse they have. they think the schools policy ought to be changed, and this is the only way they have to get the school to listen to the complaint... that's really not their fault. we've all rolled our eyes at stupid school boards acting like pencil-dicked tyrants here and there... they can do whatever they want and get away with it, and sometimes what they do is pretty crappy. what these parents are asking for is pretty simple, and this is the only way they have to ask for it and get listened to.

[Houdini]

it's more likely that i will "waste" my $500 a year on car insurance than that i will need to file a claim. funny, i keep paying that premium, tho, just in case. that's the whole point.


$500/year on car insurance? I guess I need to move. I think mine is around $2400 right now. Stupid NOLA.

[Napoleon54]

$500/year on car insurance? I guess I need to move. I think mine is around $2400 right now. Stupid NOLA.

Y'know, you do have the freedom to move to another state. Another country, even.

:winkie:

[Houdini]

Y'know, you do have the freedom to move to another state. Another country, even.

:winkie:

Hah! Let it be known that I never suggested you do that. I only expressed strong empathy for your situation re: handguns. :)

Yeah, but I'm kinda bound by contract to stay here for at least another 1.5 years. After that, and after a few very recent and bad events (not Katrina), I'm really considering finding another abode.

[MikeD]

rant

We've covered all this before, in different threads. It's nothing more than a difference in parenting methodologies. :rolleyes: