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During last July’s 5.8 earthquake, 3-year-old Bronwyn told her 1-year-old sister, “We’re going for a wiggle.” READ MORE
Teen Years
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As a high schooler, in the past few years I've come to rely on my cell phone as a necessary tool for keeping in touch with my friends and parents. While playing sports, I've used my phone to call my parents asking them to pick me up after the end of a match. At school, I've kept my cell phone with me in case someone calls. And I've enjoyed the security of having a phone while driving. Though my intentions were innocent, for a while, every time I brought my cell phone to school, I was breaking a state law. Until this summer, cell phone use by students on high school campuses was illegal. Recognizing the impracticality of this law, in 2002 the state Legislature passed legislation legalizing cell phone use in schools if permitted by the local school district. If school districts set effective cell phone use policies, the new law can benefit teens, as well as parents, in need of constant phone access. Cellular phones were initially banned in high schools due to fear that they were being used largely for dealing illegal drugs. As teen cell phone use has skyrocketed in the past few years, however, the percentage of teens using cell phones for drug-related reasons is essentially negligible. Eventually, the old law served no legitimate purpose. Today, cell phones can benefit teens in a variety of ways. The issue of making high school cell phone use legal was spurred by tragedy - police were alerted during school shootings in recent years. In such emergencies, as well as any form of natural disaster, cell phones are indispensable. Outside of emergencies, cell phones let teens keep in touch with home. Our parents remain informed of our whereabouts. We also can call our friends to coordinate after-school activities. But before heading out to buy a new phone, it's important to check your local district's policy. As the state legislation is fairly new, many districts haven't had time to adjust their regulations. Some districts continue to ban cell phone use entirely. Others have placed limitations of their use, particularly imposing penalties for students whose cell phones go off in class. If you find that your school district still doesn't allow cell phones, you may be able to persuade the district to adopt a new policy. Have your parents call the district office asking for changes to be made. Parents often can be influential in motivating district officials to act. You also can write letters to the district explaining the situation, or have your friends sign a petition seeking a new policy. Hopefully, you too will now be able to use your phone without fear of being arrested. Marcel Przymusinski is a student at Troy High School in Fullerton. |
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