Sorry NY parents, there is no right to have cell phones in schools
JoeUser Forums
Normally I'd probably be hard pressed to agree with a New York court decision, but... I'm with the school system on this one...[more]
From C|Net's News.com site: N.Y. court upholds school cell phone ban
The city's school system instituted the possession ban in September 2005 as part of its efforts to maintain school security and discipline, contending the mobile gadgets can promote cheating and harassment, and began confiscating them from students the next year. But parent advocates had challenged the rules as overly broad and irrational, arguing that cell phones were a "lifeline" for families trying to reach their students, particularly during their commutes and after-school activities.
In an opinion released Tuesday, the appellate court disagreed sharply with the parents' stance.
"The cell phone ban does not directly and substantially interfere with any of the rights alleged by the parents," Justice Angela Mazzarelli wrote in the opinion.
The justice also took a shot at adult cell phone use, writing:
The Chancellor's determination that a mere ban on cell phone use would not be sufficiently effective was not irrational. It is now routine before theater, movie and other cultural presentations attended by adults, for patrons to be asked to turn off their cell phones. Even then there is no guarantee that the cell phone of an inattentive person will not ring at an inopportune time. While the vast majority of public school children are respectful and well-behaved, it was not unreasonable for the Chancellor to recognize that if adults cannot be fully trusted to practice proper cell phone etiquette, then neither can children.
Given the points raised about adult cell phone use (which I find equally rude and obtrusive into my own life and activities), I'm happy to see someone, anyone, trying to apply some common sense to the use of these electronic leashes and life support systems.
It seems that many people can't remember the days when average citizens weren't able to reach 24x7. I guess a lot of people never lived in the pre-cell phone days (or worse even, the pre-pager {which predates the cell phone} days). Apparently many people don't realize that if you aren't in constant contact with the rest of the universe you can survive and so can the others in your circle (despite what Alltell, T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint and others would have us believe).
At least the school system in New York is applying some logic and common sense to dealing with cell phones. Now if only the rest of the country would do the same. 
