Teaching kids to use cell phones wisely better idea than banning them at school

With technology comes a whole new slate of issues and responsibilities.

Cell phones are probably the greatest inventions to come along. They provide us with instant access to loved ones, an added measure of personal security and make life more convenient.

Their only down side is the way some folks choose to use them. There are the drivers who talk incessantly on cell phones and get distracted from what’s going on in traffic.

Now, kids have found all kinds of ways to misuse these magnificent devices.

Texting test questions or test answers to other students has been a problem in classrooms. Texting while ignoring a teacher and classroom work is another.

As cell phones gain popularity with a larger number of school-age children, counties are spending part of the summer reviewing cell phone policies. A Mineral County school even gained approval to ban cell phones completely.

In Raleigh County there is no such ban in place.

Students are allowed to bring cell phones to school. However, they need to be warned that disciplinary action will be taken for anyone who uses a phone during instructional hours.

Students face a variety of sanctions, including suspension, after-school detention and/or the phone being confiscated, should they use them during school hours.

Those are reasonable rules. It’s unfortunate kids and adults won’t apply enough self-discipline to use cell phones at the proper time and place. Nevertheless, that’s the reality.

The Raleigh County Board of Education seems to have come up with a reasonable compromise. Instead of banning the phones, the policies allow for restricted use.

Yes, that calls for yet more teacher time and attention to monitor the use of cell phones, but a total ban in this age of the desire for instant communication doesn’t seem likely to work for the long haul. Mineral County may have to alter its policies one of these days.

The Raleigh County BOE has the right idea. Allowing cell phones but teaching kids to use them responsibly is a good lesson in the practical application of the education process.