Joliet Schools Proposes Cell Phone Ban

There is a proposed cell phone ban on the agenda for the August Joliet School Board meeting.

Last school year, Joliet instituted a ban on cell phones in the class room, but high school students were still allowed to use their phones between classes and before and after school.

This year's proposed ban would bar students from having any personal connected device on their person, this includes watches, from 8am to 335pm.

This issue was discussed extensively at the July Board meeting. A majority of the Board seems to be in support of the ban. Reasons for the ban are that cell phones are a distraction to the learning environment and they promote bullying.

Trustee Kelly Carrington, provided an interesting take from the law enforcement perspective. He advised that in the event of a hostage situation, sometimes a student cell phone could be the lifeline that provides law enforcement with vital information.

Another significant issue with the proposed ban is that the administration of Joliet schools was unable to enforce last year's cell phone policy. According to teacher Tammie Grewell this was because the teachers were not doing their jobs of enforcing the policy, not a result of weak administration.

While it may have been true that teachers were not enforcing, it is the responsibility of the administration to ensure policy is followed and provide guidance if it is not. It begs the question, how things will be different this year and why not just start enforcing the policy as it stands.

The ban on cell phones will not apply to teachers or staff.

This matter will be heard Tuesday, August 13, at 630pm at the Joliet Public Schools library. The public is welcome to comment there, or public can also attend Coffee with the Superintendent that morning at 9am at the Joliet Community Center. The only way to guarantee the Joliet School Board hears your comment is to speak at the Board meeting, however.