Jan 2, 2008 1:45 pm US/Eastern
Confusion Clouds NYC Schools Cell Phone Ban
Students Allowed To Bring Cell Phones To School, But Banned From Having Them Inside Building
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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A new ruling allows students in New York City to bring a cell phone to school, but not inside the school, causing widespread confusion.
AP
New York City public school students are ringing in the new year, literally. A new rule now allows them to bring a cell phone to school.
The problem is, cell phones are still banned
inside the school.
If you think that sounds confusing, you're not alone. Students and parents alike really aren't sure what to make of the poorly worded privilege. Many, however, agree that having a cell phone with them during the day should be allowed.
"To call people after school or before school, you know, in case of emergency," said Tanzen Lilly, a junior at LaGuardia High School.
Lilly is one of many students often seen chatting away on a cell phone on their way to school, even though once inside, they know phones are banned.
Parents seem to side with their children on the issue.
"I think that's a very bad law they put in, because for emergency purposes, they need to have their phone," said Juan Rivera, a concerned parent.
Despite opposition from parents like Rivera, in 2006, the cell phone ban in city schools went into effect. City leaders felt phone were a distraction and could be used as a tool for cheating. A new city council resolution that was recently approved now allows students to carry a cell phone to and from school, but the ban inside the school is still enforced.
"What's the point of being able to bring it in school if we're not allowed to have it?" said Antoinette Ross, a junior at LaGuardia High.
So what's a student to do with a cell phone? Officials told CBS 2 the department of education is currently trying to come up with a solution, but so far, no luck.
"We're kind of stuck in the middle with one person telling us it's OK if we have our phone, and someone else tellingus we can't, and it's kind of like, OK, we'll just hide it," said Lillian Rusk, a LaGuardia High senior.
And other students agree, hiding the phone is their own temporary solution until officials do their part, because for most students, giving up the phone, they say, is simply not an option.
CBS 2's Liz Hur contributed to this story.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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