LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Texas schools will be back in session in just a few short weeks, and students will need to adapt to the changes as new cell phone policies will go into place prohibiting the use of wireless devices due to House Bill 1481.
Tim Crane, the Roosevelt High School principal, says he knows there are pros and cons to this new bill but believes it will be beneficial for students and their academic success in the long run.
“It’s going to be controversial and I understand that,” Crane said. “We just ask that the parents understand our point of view from the school side why it’s important for the students to be focused on their school work.”
Crane says he understands the hesitation some may have by not being able to communicate with their parents or child quickly, but wants to assure parents that schools still make communicating with parents a top priority whenever someone needs to get an important message across.
“I would just explain to the parents, if it’s an emergency we will contact you, if it’s an emergency that the student needs to contact you, they can certainly still do that through the classroom telephones or the front office phone,” Crane said. “We encourage them to call the front office and we will get the message to the student.”
School districts will have some flexibility in how they implement the policy. This includes determining storage locations for the students’ devices and disciplinary measures, as well as certain exceptions for students who require devices due to accommodations.
Crane believes with some time, parents and students will see this new policy benefiting the students and their academics.
“I understand the concern from the parents’ side. They want that immediate contact with their child,” Crane said. “But the truth is, their child is in class and should be focusing on their classwork and not their cellphone.”
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