The Problem of Students, Cell Phones & Substitute Teachers

By Barbara PressmancloseAuthor: Barbara Pressman Name: Barbara Pressman
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Barbara Pressman, author, of Substitute Teaching from A to Z , responds to questions from substitute teachers with advice that is often as pertinent to full time teaches as it is to substitutes.

Are students allowed to use cell phones in school?

Dear Barbara,

Yesterday I subbed in a ninth grade English class. One of the young ladies in my room, Amanda, was texting on her cell phone. I told her to put it away and she did. Later in the day, the principal told me that I should have taken the phone away from Amanda. Cell phones have been outlawed in the school. Then she told me that Amanda has been bullying another student by texting things about this child. She did it again while in my English class. Another student reported the incident to the office.

I feel like I got in trouble for not enforcing the cell phone rule. But no one told me that they were forbidden in the school!  I think I’ve been judged unfairly.

Thanks,  Megan in Chicago

Dear Megan,

You were right to ask Amanda to put away her cell phone. They should never be out or on during class time. If you were not told about the ban on cell phones, you would have no way of knowing. However, you should be sure to check at the office with every school before the day begins.

Cell phones have presented a big problem for schools. Most security officers have recommended that they be banned from all schools. However, many parents want to be able to communicate with their children in case of emergency. So each school has its own policy.

Students have been know to text answers to tests to their friends, bully one another, take embarrassing pictures, record their teachers, and even plan fights or bomb threats!

It’s your job as a sub to check with a colleague or the principal about the school’s cell phone policy.

Barbara