Expanding Phone Privileges
Mrs. Leiker created Project Cell Phone 2 at Fowler High School during the spring of 2012 to encourage students to become responsible and to arrive to school on time.
There’s currently a countdown in the lobby for Project Cell Phone 2. The goal of the program is to promote students to not be tardy for 20 days or their phones taken away during school hours, and in return they will receive cell phone privileges during passing periods.
Many people have their opinions on Project Cell Phone 2. Mr. Dupuis doesn’t know whether he likes Project Cell Phone 2 or not. He thinks that students would be more tempted to check their phones during class if they know that they’re about to receive a message, “I guess I’ll be confiscating more cell phones,” stated Dupuis. He thinks that if students can be responsible enough, then they deserve to have their cell phones, but he’s not sure if students can show up all 20 days without anybody in the school being tardy. “Of course there’s going to be students that follow the rules, and those who don’t,” said Dupuis about students’ use of the policy.
Andrea Granados doesn’t think that Project Cell Phone 2 will happen because too many students show up late within a twenty-day time period although she thinks it’s a great idea. When asked what she saw as the advantages of Project Cell Phone 2, Granados replied, “Not having to always check my phone during class.” She also thinks that if students achieve Project Cell Phone 2, and they do get caught texting in class. “They’ll feel guilty knowing that they have the opportunity to use their phones at lunch and during passing periods,” she said. However, she thinks that most students will treat it right and not abuse their privileges.
When asked about her views on Project Cell Phone 2, Mrs. Moenning replied, “As long as their phones aren’t a disruption, then I don’t see any problem. I would love for the students to have this because it would hopefully cut down on texting in class.” Moenning thinks that the students have worked hard enough to deserve more cell phone privileges, and they would enjoy texting in the hallways. It would hopefully cut down on students stopping to talk in the hallways which can cause flow issues.
“Bigger schools are allowed to have their phones, so why shouldn’t we be able to? As long as it’s not distracting somebody, what’s the harm?” Brianna Chance questioned about cell phone usage views. She thinks that people will use Project Cell Phone 2 like lunch, and stop getting their phones taken away all the time. “I think it’s a thought-out effort to give students the incentive of cell phone use during passing periods for not being tardy,” said Chance. Although there’s a lot of different privileges that come with owning a cell phone, Chance would be content with just being able to have her cell phone during lunch and passing periods.
Principal Mrs. Leiker thinks that there are advantages for the students having their cell phones. For instance, if a game is canceled or the times are changed, the students would be able to reach parents to inform them. Leiker got the idea of Project Cell Phone 2 when students informed her that Meade High School students were allowed to have their cell phones during passing periods. Students have until the end of May to achieve Project Cell Phone 2.
Students achieved the first cell phone project last year on the seniors’ last day of school. “Fowler students have proven themselves worthy with their phones,” stated Leiker referring to the drop of cell phone abuse when students achieved cell phone privileges during lunch. Leiker thinks that the teachers mostly approve of Project Cell Phone 2 because it’s promoting the students to not be tardy to school; however, Leiker thinks that this extra freedom with their phones can create the problem of students being tardy to class.