WHS Officials Weigh Changes to Cell Phone Policy

As technology continues to advance, so does the need for students and school officials to adapt accordingly. 

And administrators at are aiming to do just that. Student legislators at the high school are looking to update the school's policy on the use of cell phones or other electronic devices. 

"Our current existing handbook language about electronics usage is really outdated," Westwood High School principal Sean Bevan said. "It still references outdated devices and just isn't current." 

Bevan is considering a proposal by the school's student legislature to modify the existing policy, as the use of certain devices, such as cell phones, has become a life standard, and in some cases even necessary. 

"The old language basically said students are not permitted to carry cellular phones on them during the day," Bevan said. "That wasn't accurate. Kids carry cell phones; parents prefer that they do for a million reasons."

In a recent blog post, Bevan outlines the existing policy and the proposed changes, which includes the legislators' logic behind the proposal: 

Advances in technology have become a part of students’ daily lives at WHS. The use of electronic devices is supported by the school’s mission statement, which indicates that students are expected to communicate effectively as well as have access to and interpret information from a variety of sources. Cell phones and other electronic devices are important and are relied upon for communication, education, and entertainment. With the new WHS policy, students and faculty would be able to make effective and appropriate use of electronic devices during the school day.

While the current policy states that personal electronic devices can be used with headphones during lunch and free periods, they are limited to only those time periods, and any use of a camera on a cell phone, or text messaging, is prohibited during the school day. 

The new policy would also prohibit the use of a camera feature in cell phones or other devices, other than for educational purposes. Any inappropriate or unauthorized use of such a camera would result in disciplinary action or legal consequences. 

If approved, the new policy would allow for the use of electronic devices in designated areas througout the day at Westwood High School. But the use of the devices must be in compliance with specified regulations for those specific areas, which would include the cafeteria, library, hallways and the main lobby area, as well as the school's courtyard and outside spaces.  

The change makes sense, Bevan said, but before making any decisions, he plans to discuss the matter with other administrators for added input.

"I have to sit on it, think about it and talk to some other teachers about it," said Bevan, who added that he found it exciting to work on such a measure with students in his first year as principal. 

"It was my first real foray into the legislative council process," he said. "This is the first major piece of legislation in a while, and it's interesting to see the democratic process play out."