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Cell Phones: It's time for a change!
By McKinley S., Gold Team

Each day, how many people are accused of having and talking on their cell phones? The answer is too many.

Many kids get punished each day for having a cell phone, but is it really their fault? Parents should get part the blame, because many tell their kids to bring cell phones to school in case of an emergency. But a school policy forces teachers to oppose this and won't take it as an excuse for having a cell phone.

Meanwhile, cell phones aren't the only hot items at school; what about iPods? If either of these devices are found, teachers confiscate them.

Some students believe that many teachers are not being open minded about the new millennium's technology, and some time it seems they not only want nothing to do with it, but are trying to prevent kids from getting into it.

Research shows that when kids have a cell phone with them, they are more protected from the dangers that lurk both on and off the school grounds. Darien is a very safe place to live in, but that doesn't mean it will always be safe from the outside world. We may deny it, but strangers can still get into Darien and do unspeakable things. Parents feel a sense of security when they know their kids have a cell phone when they aren't home, even when they're just in school. They like to know that if their kids are in trouble they can contact them or call 911.

How do iPods have anything to do with school? Opposition would say they are a disruption and should not be tolerated in any part of school. But this little piece of technology can make study halls a very tranquil place.

At certain points of school, teachers pile too much work on students. This results in over cramming, crabby students, and students who think classes are nap times.

Teachers won't see this behavior if the students receive time to relax with their own choice of music. The emphasis is on student choice, because the selections that some teachers play are outdated and simply make students ornery and tired. As much as teachers don't want to believe it, it is time for iPods and cell phones to start appearing more in school, which is without a doubt for the better.

NOTE: This is an editorial.