School bans fuzzy boots used to hide cell phones

[The Straight Story]

School bans fuzzy boots used to hide cell phones


PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Singer Nancy Sinatra may have had boots made for walking, but she never attended Pottstown Middle School.

Starting Monday the Philadelphia suburban district is banning the wearing of fuzzy open-top boots, including the popular Ugg brand, to middle school classes because students have been stashing cell phones in the loose footwear, according to district director of community relations John Armato.

"Cell phones are a problem for obvious reasons," Armato said.

Superintendent Reed Lindley said the school principal asked for the boot ban "because of the classroom disruptions that are resulting from ringing cell phones."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-boots-uggs-pennsylvaniatre80s0n8-20120129,0,2046529.story

[mzteris]

1. stupid. ban the phones ringing

not the boots.

If it rings, it's confiscated until end of day. More than once and they call your parents to pick it up from the office.

That's what they do at my son's school and after the first few incidents - blessed silence. (OK so they put them on vibrate, but still... if the teacher hears - or sees it - it's theirs for the day.

[saras]

4. Yep. It's an easily solved problem, and is solved where learning is valued

Putting it on vibrate doesn't do much good when you can't ANSWER it, TALK to someone, LISTEN to them, or TEXT with it without getting it confiscated. Well, unless... but let's not go there.

[HopeHoops]

2. Our district has a simple rule - TURN THEM OFF. It works.

[Igel]

5. Another simple rule: We see them, on or off, and they're confiscated.

They can pick up them for $15 at the end of the day after discipline's been awarded.

It happens enough, seniors lose privileges.

MP3 players are a different story: They get confiscated and parents have to pick them up and pay the fine.

[HopeHoops]

6. That's pretty much how they do it, but I don't believe we have a fine.

I don't think there's a need for parents to pick anything up either - just end of the day for the kids. Ours just got in the habit of switching them off before leaving for the bus.

[lindysalsagal]

3. Their phones are a total pain in the ass and they don't need them.

The parents consider them the new umbilical cord, but the kids just get more freedom and less supervision with them.

I'm glad I'll be out of the public schools in 4 years. Just more ridiculous crap to deal with and less learning.

Sorry to the civilians out there: But school is becoming more and more of a warehouse. The parents hire their lawyers and the administrators cave: It's really all about keeping from getting sued.

I used to love being a teacher.