New Rules About Electronic Devices
By Cunningham, Mark
A Rule Change at Lisle Senior High
There are two significant rules changes in the 2010- 2011 edition of the Lisle Senior High School student handbook. That handbook will be distributed to students the first week of school. In one of the changes students will be expected to keep any electronic communication device (such as, but not limited to, a cell phone), and/or any electronic entertainment device (such as, but not limited to, ipods, MP3 players, electronic gaming equipment) in their lockers during the school day and while at any activity during the school day.
The other significant rule change is the development of definitions and processes for reducing bullying behavior in the high school. That will be discussed in other articles as the year progresses.
The new part of electronic communication/entertainment rule is the inclusion of the electronic entertainment devices. For the past three semesters, this rule about communication devices (most typically, cell phones) was in practice.
Reasons for the Change
The rule change came about based on information gathered from the Student Handbook/Discipline Committee which meets each year to consider changes to the student handbook and school rules. This committee is composed of teachers, administrators, parents, and students. In addition, the staff of Lisle Senior High School by consensus favored and requested this rule change.
There are a number of reasons for the change. The first is safety. Students wearing headphones, talking on cell phones, or concentrating on a phone call or text or game, may endanger other students by their lack of attention to where they are and what they are doing, for example walking down the hall.
Secondly students can surely be distracted in the class room from the academic goals when their attention is diverted. In addition, they may very well distract others. The physical presence of the equipment and any noise or action by the student may be a distraction to the teacher as he or she teaches.
There were literally dozens of incidents last year when a student misplaced, left sitting out, or even had one of these devices stolen. In addition to the physical loss of the device, there was much time spent by staff investigating these incidents.
This year at LSHS we are emphasizing growth and development of pro social skills in all school environments. Students who are occupied with ipods, video games, and cell phones are really not socially engaged. In fact, it appears these devices tend to isolate people from those immediately around them.
Lastly, The Student Discipline/Handbook Committee gathered information from parents who believed their student’s academic performance improved when the parents removed and or restricted the use of these items by the student at school.
Consequences of Rule Violations and Procedure to Reclaim Device
The consequence of breaking the rule is the loss of the device for the school day. The staff member who witnesses the rule being broken will ask the student to give the teacher the device. The device must be reclaimed by the parent. Repeated violations (more than three a semester) will result in a one hour detention on a Saturday for each violation over three. Failure/refusal to give the device to the staff member requesting it will result in a Saturday Detention and possible suspension.
There are compelling reasons to adopt this change. We hope parents and students will work with us to implement this rule in a positive way. The text of the rule follows immediately. Please take some time to read it and discuss it with their student(s). If there are questions or comments, please contact Mr. Cunningham at the high school.
Electronic and Entertainment Systems
Electronic communication and entertainment systems, including, but not limited to, cell phones, pagers, MP3 players, cameras, and video game systems are NOT to be seen, heard, or used during the school day (from 750 am to 237 pm, or the hours of the class schedule on a special schedule day), in the building or at any school activity during the school day.
This rule will be explained to all students by their teachers on the first day of school. This explanation will serve as a warning to students.
These devices are to be kept, turned off, in student lockers. Lisle Senior High School and District 202 accept no responsibility for the safety and security of these items.
Students violating this rule will be asked to give the device to the teacher. The teacher will identify the item with a sticker that has the student’s name and the teacher’s name. The teacher will bring the device to the Assistant Principal’s Office. For each violation of the rule parents will be required to come in person to claim the item either at the Attendance Office or the Main Office, which are open from 700 am to 330 pm.
If a student violates this rule more than three times in a semester, a one hour detention will be assigned and served on a Saturday for each succeeding violation in a semester, as well as the parent arranging to pick up the item.
Students who fail to give the item to a teacher upon reasonable request will be assigned Saturday Detention for Insubordination. Failure to serve the detention will result in suspension. Multiple refusals will result in suspension without the possibility of Saturday Detention as alternative to suspension.
