Students fight for their right to cell phones and hoodies
A ban on cell phones and hoodies on high school campuses this year has spawned a growing grassroots student protest. Aided by, what else, mass text messaging and social networking sites, students had planned to hold a protest Monday afternoon, but it was postponed due to the large response and need to obtain permits. A story in today's Daily Advertiser quotes one of the organizers, Acadiana High senior John Merrifield: “I want to do it the right way; the respectful way,” he says. “Overall, I want it to be a peaceful protest and I don’t want to break any rules.” The Facebook group "Lafayette Parish High School Students AGAINST Cellphone&Hoodie Ban!" now has more than 1,000 members.
Students may be fighting an uphill battle when it comes to cell phones. Lafayette was one of the last school districts in the state to allow cell phones on high school campuses. The phones were first banned at Lafayette high schools several years ago, then allowed back on campuses for the past two years with the caveat that students not use them during school hours. Persistent problems with students texting during class led the school system to reinstate the ban this year.
On the issue of hoodies, however, students seem to have found an ally in school board member Mark Cockerham. Cockerham has placed an item on the agenda for Wednesday’s school board meeting to reconsider the ban on hoodies. Cockerham’s reasoning is an economic one: The rule would force many families to have to replace their kids’ preferred winter coats. Students are planning to show up at the meeting in force to voice support for Cockerham’s motion.
... written by Robert L. Broussard , August 18, 2009 - 05:06 pm
In my opinion, these high school students/protesters need to calm down and put up with a bit of inconvenience in their lives. Not everything in life is designed solely to make them comfortable or for their convenience, nor should they expect it to be. If they need to use the phone, a land line is available at school. If they're cold in class, the school system is wasting energy and should raise the thermostat. If they need a sweater, retail clothing stores all over this parish would gladly sell them one without a hood. The idea that it's hard to find a sweater without a hood is preposterous. I'm a 1984 graduate of the Lafayette Parish School System. I graduated from high school, college and law school without a cell phone, a computer, or a hooded sweatshirt, all of which are conveniences and not necessities, even in this modern day and age. The School Board should not cave in on this issue.
... written by Puzzled , August 18, 2009 - 05:23 pm
Dress code always bothers me.
When Louisiana public education gets to where it needs to be I'll be more aware, I guess, of the terrible issues with wearing a jacket with an appendage to keep one's head warm.
Until that happens, I'm with the kids. Especially the ones who are respectful enough to follow protocol, and want to have a peaceful protest, not break s**t to "make a point."
Thanks for covering the smart kids who want to show a little bit of who they are, Ind.
... written by TSS , August 18, 2009 - 05:57 pm
These kids need to be more worried about Learning at school than having cell phones at school. Just another way to waste their time and their talents! As far as the hoodies go, I think using a hoodie as a jacket is fine, but the hoods should not be worn indoors.
... written by DILLIGAF , August 18, 2009 - 06:28 pm
Who's getting phone calls at school? They text each other in class. Let the A & B students have the cell phones...maybe their grades would improve
... written by highschoolteacher , August 18, 2009 - 07:40 pm
Cockerham’s reasoning is an economic one: The rule would force many families to have to replace their kids’ preferred winter coats.....
I find this a little hard to believe. There are thrift stores ALL over the place--find one there! Does anyone care about an education anymore? Sheesh.......this is MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING!!
... written by Phil , August 18, 2009 - 08:02 pm
Nice thing about having a cell phone is when a crazed killer comes into the classroom and starts shooting, you can take a cellphone picture of him and send it to the police. And then you can call the police and tell them about it. Bad thing about cellphones is that you need to turn it off, but you can't.
... written by northsidian , August 18, 2009 - 08:33 pm
They should be protesting their fellow students who did not follow the rules and are the cause of all this. But I guess the think it is kool to break the rule!!
... written by Hmm... , August 18, 2009 - 09:13 pm
How is it that a city that bills itself as a technology center is going to ban cell phones in schools? Didn't the Louisiana community college system just start offering classes over cell phones?
The whole country is headed in one direction -- increasing use of technology in education -- and Lafayette is headed the other way.
... written by russell trahan , August 18, 2009 - 09:15 pm
Technology such as a cell phone is a distraction to the business of learning. With the advancement in technology today, and continuous connection internet based phones such as the Iphone, there is too much temptation to cheat by searching the internet, voice recording notes, and also writing general information on the notepad of the phone. Focus should be on the teacher and the faculty, not on texting freinds and watching Youtube. If there is an emergency, the student and parent can always use the main school phone.
... written by Bob , August 18, 2009 - 11:36 pm
They do make a device called a cell phone jammer only thing is their banned in the U.S. Make them legal and install them wherever needed. Then let them try to send their gay little text messages to each other. Texting is so gay.
... written by JP , August 19, 2009 - 12:54 pm
Banning cell phones in high school is fine by me, but banning hoodies seems a bit much. High schoolers don't need to be using cell phones in school (aren't all your friends in school?), and it obviously will be a distraction from learning. Just wait until college to be walk around in a perpetual state of distraction from the world around you. When I drive through the UL campus it's amazing to see almost everyone with a phone stuck to their face.
... written by Myrick6 , August 19, 2009 - 01:02 pm
IF THEY'D CONCENTRATE ON IMPROVING THEIR SCORES AS THEIR CELL PHONES, I'd be real impressed then. SINCE TEST SCORES CONTINUE TO FALL, there is no need to start school so early. GIVE ME MY TWO WEEKS BACK !!! It'll save the school system money and the students might appreciate their time back and be prepared to go back to school. Cell phones are a NICE privilege, not a right. I always think its sad when the good have to suffer for the BAD, but some people's children always have to push the limit.
... written by Phil , August 19, 2009 - 07:21 pm
I taught computer classes, years ago. When students discovered solitaire, you lost them. When browsing the internet came along, you lost them. They would have a zoned look that you knew meant they weren't totally there. All these gadgets make you more disconnected from reality. I saw a study saying that people felt even more isolated and alone, even though they were more able to connect electronically, because they did not connect in reality. Like here.
... written by Travlee , August 20, 2009 - 05:36 pm
I have to agree with the cell phone bans. In the late 80's we didn't have cell phones and we survived. School is for learning and not calling and texting your BFF's. Bottom line is if the kids had followed the rules this ban wouldn't have had to happen. Shame on those kids and the parents who won't discipline their kids!
However, the hoodie rule is just silly and a bit over the edge. Come on School Board guys, pick your battles! Is this REALLY such a huge problem?? And what about those kids in the band who were forced to buy the hoodies AND get them embroidered only to be told they can't wear them. As a parent I would have been totally ticked off if that had affected my child! Some parents just don't have that kind of money to just throw away.
... written by Ms. Moist Towelette , August 20, 2009 - 07:11 pm
A hoodie? A teenage burka?
... written by nolaf , August 20, 2009 - 11:01 pm
Bob - The verbage you chose for your post is disgusting and offensive. I'm sure you possess greater abilities that you can utilize to express yourself more effectively. Try it.
... written by jameison , October 06, 2009 - 01:34 pm
cell phones SHOULD be allowed.. what if something happens at school and no ones there to help? no one is there to hear you? and the school phones dont work? the teachers have cell phones but what if one isnt there?
hoodies i really dont understand... theyve never had a big problem with them, they may have had a few minor incidents with hoodies but i mean come on... if you havent had a problem with them before, why ban them? what happens when it gets cold? no one is going to wear a huge jacket there not exactly in "style" these days... but whatever the cause i dont understand....
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