Posted by Jacksprat on May 12, 2007 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

There reason cell phone shouldbe band. There is no reason for the studenttass room and he should not have been playing with it.
The number of cell phones has gone too far. There is very little that is done on the phone that could not wait until a land line is available. Most of it is just plan nothing talk.

Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 12, 2007 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Jm, He could have accidently hit the talk button while it was still in his pocket, unknowningly? I think cell phones are good in most ages and cases. My Sister being a single parent can get ahold of her children anytime. They are involved in after school sports and the phone comes in handy there too!!! When she picks them up instead of walking all over trying to find them she can call them up!
Also there are times when she has to work later and calls my neice to pick up her brothers. So not all cell phone use is bad....

Posted by RavenSoft on May 12, 2007 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

cellphones in the classrooms should not be allowed. parents can EASILY call the school's front office and ask them to deliver a message. either that or the parent can test message or leave a voicemail on the phone and the student can check the phone during break.

Posted by collegestudentforlife on May 12, 2007 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Raven, most school offices won't deliver personal messages to students anymore -- there's way too much other stuff from them to do. They aren't personal receptionists, you know. And it's not like this kid was talking on his phone to his mom, or to anyone for that matter. I'm in school and while I turn my phone on silent during all of my classes, I have kicked my bag or something and accidentially dialed someone's phone without meaning to do it.

Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 13, 2007 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I do agree they should not be talking or answering the phone while in class. Everything can wait until break. Unless its a EMERGENCY then they can call the office and relay a message asap.

Posted by OnlineReader on May 13, 2007 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Is anyone wondering why a high school was showing an R rated movie in class? I saw Platoon when it first came out and I was 20 and it affected me deeply. Not necessarily in a good way...it's a very moving, controversial movie and I, for one, would NOT want my child watching that movie without me so that I can explain how I feel about some very important issues. I hope the school had permission from the parents for this. As for the cell phone, think of it this way....let's just say this was an actual shooting...wouldn't you be praising the boy for thinking to dial his home for help during an emergency and everyone would be writing in how important it is for children to have cell phones for an emergency, etc. Isn't that why he has the phone. Things like this happen and they don't happen often so it's really not a big deal.

Posted by bljashinsky on May 13, 2007 at 8:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Friday morning at Santa Susana High School I stepped out of second period English to see a scene in front of me that could only be described as movie or 6 o'clock news like. With SWAT team members with machines guns and other Simi Valley Police Officers running towards the other end of the school. At this point, I, along with my friends who were walking with me darted into the office to try and see what was going on and what actions we should take to be safe. The office was empty of administrators, and the office personnel had no idea what was going on or where we should go. I immediately called my Mom to inform her of the developments before she learned some other way, and then walked to 3rd period. At this point the entire school was in fear and the teachers had no idea what was going on or what to do. I immediately called the Simi Valley Police Department and was transferred to a squad car radio and found out that a student had a cellphone out and accidentally had called his parents who had heard gunshots coming from the TV since the class was watching a movie. Relieved, I called back my Mom and informed students who informed there parents as well.

I had to do this on my own; with my classmates in terror and teachers going from class to class asking each other what to do and what had happened with no one having any answers. The situation was chaotic at best, and was a huge breakdown in communication by the administration. As soon as danger was known the school should have been locked down, because had there been a real emergency a countless number of lives could have been lost. Even for a false alarm when you have police officers in full commando gear roaming the halls the fear invoked in students is dangerous in itself. I know lock down procedures exist, and throughout my time in school I've experienced them.

-Brad Jashinsky

Posted by royhalter on May 14, 2007 at 4:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Brad,
You should right a book on how you were the hero in this whole thing. I am sure you were not transferred to a "squad car" radio but Police dispatch. I am also sure that it was one of your insubordinate fellow classmates that caused all this by refusing to get off the phone when told to by the teacher. That’s why this happened. I am sure the school and Simi Police did everything they could to ensure you safety and responded in appropriate manner, as your parents would want them to.
I agree with jmcgaw3046 cell phones should be banned from schools, we all lasted when we were in school. I am sure the school would deliver a message to a student if it were important. For those of you that call or text your students your in the wrong as well, and your probably one of those people that calls your children several times a day and disturbs your co-workers. You call your child to wake them up, you call them a second time to make sure they brushed their teeth, you call them during second period break to make sure they are having a good day, you call them at lunch. I am also sure that your kid probable calls you several times a day as well which if you have to share a phone or sit close to a co worker like that it gets annoying hear them talk to their son/ daughter every morning and listen to them make up excuses about how they don’t feel good. For all you parents discipline your children for calling you and disturbing their classes. I think they should fine the student who caused this disruption and took several officers away from the citizens in need of them.

Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 14, 2007 at 7:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Royhalter, The story said he accidently called his Mother! Never being told by a teacher to get off the phone! Where did you read that? I can not believe the rest of the comment. If cell phones bother you so much at work then complain to your employer! Cell phones are NOT a bad thing. If used properly and at the right time. Obviously you have a bad attitude about cell phones. Please.......
And now back to the movie.... In another county a sub-teacher let a class of 12 year olds watch broke back mountain in class. There is now a Lawsuit pending....... hmmmmmmmm

Posted by ministep3 on May 15, 2007 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To the people on the bandwagon about cell phones. Why don't just start complainig about stereo's, radios and those evil computers. Are we now going to ban people from talk higher than a certain decible level, just because you can hear a conversation doesn't mean you have to listen to it. Children who are taught manners are the same children that know how to you cell phones, land lines and a pen. They need to be taught how to communicate, not just to ban things. Yes lets have our teachers and school staff running around delivering messages. These are the people who get paid 40K a year and are expected to be college educated and afford a home that costs 600K. Kids should have cell phones, I for one think that it is every parents duty to provide one. We don't have Amber Alerts for nothing. I for one don't want to find out my kid was injured and had to wait for a person to walk by and help them only to find out they had to wait an extra 30 minutes because that person had to run and find a LANDLINE. Grow up we don't ride horses and we don't cook over an open fire outdoors for a reason.

Posted by littlepowers on May 15, 2007 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

we are in a communication age where people need to ahve a cell phone because they do a lot more in the course of a day then they used to. The school has a tv service where a school admin can make an anouncement through video with 10 minutes notice.

They should have locked down the school to prevent panic and get the anouncement of a false alarm to the kids and explain the them what has happened.

Regarding the R rated movie. The school is very good about getting signed permission slips from the parents.

But why all the hate about cell phones?

Posted by Cherzog on May 15, 2007 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes. I don't think cell phones should be used in the classroom, but banning them?? I think that's actually more of creating a safety hazard. Have we already forgotten Columbine or even the Virgina Tech shooting? Many of the phone calls for help came from students. Not every class room has a phone in them nor is every room with a phone is available at the time an emergency does happen.

Has anyone been on a campus when a lock down has been instated? It's rather scary. Communication rarely goes smoothly in those situations or even available. A cell phone could actually aid in safely resolving the situation.

I think saying 'Cell Phone should be banned' is rather extreme. I do feel this situation was rather unfortunate, but I think benefits and the aid cell phones has provided in these environments can outweigh a few mistakes or even a bad seed or two.

Next thing we know. We'll start banning cars in the student parking lot because someone accidentally hit a student or another parked car.

Maybe increase the penalty for playing with a phone in class would be better step in the right direction..

Maybe some of these people calling for 'banning cell phones in school' should also ask themselves.. Am I reading this at work? Should we ban personal internet usage at work? Because it takes people away from working and could lead to a virus which could take down the company network? ;)