TwinCities.com reports that in response to several instances involving students summoning other people–sometimes adults–to fights, Milwaukee will ban cell phones from its 217 schools starting Monday. Mike Heese, safety security assistant at Bradley Tech High School, says that “we consider (cell phones) almost as weapons, because when they call, we’re the ones out in front and we don’t know these people are coming.” The city joins an increasing number of districts nationwide that either outright prohibit, or limit cell phones in schools. Some, like Milwaukee, are cracking down on their use because cell phones were used to escalate violent situations. Others limit or prohibit their use because they are distractions or help facilitate cheating. In the wake of Columbine and September 11, many parents pressured schools to loosen the rules regarding cell phone use and possession in schools. However, this trend is beginning to reverse, as cell phones continue to pose problems in the form of cheating, summoning outsiders, and taking inappropriate photos…
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/16557420.htm
