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Basingstoke's man criticises changes at Brighton Hill Community College

4:00pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Gazette By Simon Moss

Spencer Cleary Spencer Cleary

A STEPDAD has criticised a decision by Basingstoke's biggest secondary school to make parents come in and collect confiscated mobile phones – claiming it puts the safety of pupils at risk.

Spencer Cleary, of The Crofts, Hatch Warren, believes the changes put in place by Brighton Hill Community College, in Brighton Way, to ban youngsters from using mobile phones during the school day are in fact punishing parents.

The 46-year-old, who is stepfather to 14-year-old Marek Sawczuk, told The Gazette: “It seems the school is punishing the parents for the acts of the children without any thought of the consequences that could occur.

“If a child feels unsafe on their way home from school due to bullying, stalking or any other potential threat, the child is unable to call for help if they do not have the phone.

“While I understand the students must be punished for breaking a school rule, it seems the college has not thought this through properly and considered the dangers associated with not returning the phone to the student after school has finished.”

He added: “As it is, the new policy does not affect the students but only affects the parents, as it is the parents who will need to take time off work to recover the phone before the school closes for the day.”

He concluded: “I believe it is of paramount importance that all confiscated phones are returned to students after school hours to ensure their safety and avoid any situations that may arise whereby having a phone could have prevented a tragedy.”

Wendy Small, deputy headteacher at the college, responded: “Our behaviour policy has been under review in the autumn term and after doing this, we are now expecting parents to come in and get the phone – basically so we can work with them and have a conversation about it. Since we introduced this rule, there has been a marked reduction in the incorrect use of phones by pupils.

“All students know from the list of college rules in their planners that they are not permitted to use mobile phones to make or receive calls or text messages.

“The rule also makes it clear that use of a mobile phone will result in confiscation. Students are reminded in the list of rules that they bring phones in at their own risk.

“The new policy does not say that students are banned from carrying a mobile phone in their school bag or pocket and they can, of course, carry them as a safety precaution when walking to and from school, and for hearing from parents, but they are not permitted to use them during the college day.”

The deputy head added: “The college is keen to work with parents to implement the college rules and the new behaviour policy as we are committed, through this partnership, to ensuring that the students take responsibility for their behaviour and are not distracted from their learning.”

Speaking of the perceived safety threat, she added: “We considered this. However, it’s the students’ responsibility not to have their phones out. If they need it to get home then that is something they need to consider before taking it out.”

Comments(47)

W Wallace says...
4:21pm Fri 3 Feb 12

I agree with the School. Should the child insist on breaking the rules then confiscate the phone. If the parent needs to come and collect it before the end of the working day then so be it. Just keep the child there for their own wellbeing also. This will eliminate anything happening to them should they not have the phone, it may also drive home to the little tykes that it is an inconvenience to all and they may think about the implications of breaking rules.

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P Heath says...
12:52pm Sat 4 Feb 12

Childe have gone too and from school without the need for mobile phones for years and years.

If the child needs to contact someone about a lift or being late or the parent needs to contact the child they can use the school landline.

Safety is not a problem and the children who abuse mobile phine rules are not the shy and retiring type.

As a previouse governor of 2 schools in Basingstoke it is parents complain about a rule like this because the parent has been put out.

More children loose their phones during the day than you would think do the parents dash out and buy a new one immediately for safety no.

Tell your child obey the rules or leave your phone at home.

If safety is a real problem the school will always accomodate frightened ,bullied or worried children.

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popleyrebel2 says...
1:28pm Sat 4 Feb 12

Mobile phones should be banned from all schools and that includes teachers using them during lessons.
Confiscating a mobile can lead to privacy being broken as the temptation to take peep would be too strong for some, including teachers.

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stevemac1970 says...
3:36pm Sat 4 Feb 12

Ok let's be devils advocate today.

Whilst I fully agree that mobiles have no place in the school day, kids are kids and they all do things they shouldn't. An example might be, with both parents needing to work and leave the house early, the child sneaks the phone into his/her bag and off to school it goes.

Now tell me why a parent should be taking unpaid leave to go collect a mobile phone when the school says... What's wrong with working with the parent rather than being dictatorial towards them. Parents and teachers work better with team work.

Mobile phones have no place in schools, but children stick to the rules more often when they see parents and teachers working together so headteachers and parents need to have more understanding of eachothers views and listen to eachother, not one say jump and the other say how high.

I hope the school gets the phones banned fully and effectively and the parents concerns listened to and assurances given to make children safe and feel safe, but without the mobile phone. We never had mobiles when I was at school, but we never had headteachers that really acted on parents safety concerns.... Let's see if we have both now.

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principal_skinner says...
7:19pm Sat 4 Feb 12

Perhaps they should lead by example and ask teachers to not use their phones during lessons?

If you want to place an emphasis on respecting rules, make sure all parties abide by them and earn that respect, rather than just expecting it.

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Mighty Antar says...
12:28pm Sun 5 Feb 12

"If you want to place an emphasis on respecting rules"! Good grief. If you don't want to place an emphasis on respecting rules, educate your child at home. Education is compulsary, but there's no law that says you have to send them to school. If you want them to take toys to school like mobile phones, then make sure they know when they can use them and when they can't and if they can't obey simple instructions, recognise that the school has to impose discipline where you can't be bothered as it has the interests of hundreds of students to consider, not just one or two. If you feel you must provide your child with a mobile for emergency use, then make sure they know what it's for.

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BugBear says...
12:42pm Sun 5 Feb 12

No wonder many children appear to be unruly and shown a lack of respect towards authority when they have parents like this, so willing and eager to interfere with the work of the teacher. This man is helping no one, least of all his child by making an enemy of the school, he is setting a bad example which his child will grow to imitate when an adult. Whilst at school our teachers rightly take over responsibility for the care, well being and education of our children, too many parents nowadays misguidedly interfere and undermine that trust. If I were an headmaster, I would ban mobile phones completely within school time. All this talk about the safety of the child is just absolute nonsense, if a child of mine led to me having to attend the school to collect a phone, it would be the child I would be asking for an excuse not the school.

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spcleary says...
8:22pm Sun 5 Feb 12

Being the Step-dad mentioned in this article, I think some of you have missed the point. It was stated in the story that I support the School in the confiscation of the phones. However, this is about CHILD SAFETY. I do not support them in not returning the phones after School has finished. I wonder how many parents would support the School if something happened to their child on the way home from School that could have been averted if the child had a mobile phone. Stalkers, bullying, paedophiles etc. No one would be thanking the School for putting their child in that position. Yes, confiscate the phones, but make sure you return them after School has finished. The School has knee-jerked without really thinking this policy through. I only hope nothing ever happens to a child due to a confiscated phone. I wonder how many of the readers would then be supporting the School.

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popleyrebel2 says...
9:21pm Sun 5 Feb 12

Spcleary, I think you raise a serious issue, if a mobile is confiscated for whatever reason the school must return it at the end of that day. There is “NO” reason what so ever for them keeping it over night, that said, I believe mobile phones should be banned from all schools, however, as a compromise if any student is caught using their phone it will be confiscated until the school day is over and then returned. The student must be allowed to disconnect their phone for safety/privacy reasons. This must also apply to staff members.

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spcleary says...
10:01pm Sun 5 Feb 12

As an FYI, his phone was confiscated at lunch time in the playground. He was not using it in class and never has done to my knowledge. Again, this was still against School rules and he knows he should not have got the phone out of his bag. The story was about child safety not School discipline. The School is not punishing the pupils, so they need to rethink their strategy. Extra homework, detentions, no breaktimes. Punish the students without risking their safety.

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popleyrebel2 says...
10:56pm Sun 5 Feb 12

It isn’t just students who use mobile phones, teachers use them and yes during lessons, and I strongly believe there is a privacy issue as the temptation to peep would be too strong for some, if not all, therefore, student’s privacy right would be broken.
The phone hacking scandal has brought home many issues of privacy; just imagine having free access to someone’s mobile phone. These kids have many personal things on their phones and it could involve family issues that must stay private.

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GC31 says...
11:41pm Sun 5 Feb 12

I'm sceptical how many stalkers, bullies and paedophiles etc. would be put off by a mobile phone. In fact I would say that certain makes and models could actually attract bullies, muggers etc. and I'll bet you wouldn't have time to get your phone out and make the call in a lot of situations.

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Folkestone Saint says...
10:07am Mon 6 Feb 12

spcleary wrote:
As an FYI, his phone was confiscated at lunch time in the playground. He was not using it in class and never has done to my knowledge. Again, this was still against School rules and he knows he should not have got the phone out of his bag. The story was about child safety not School discipline. The School is not punishing the pupils, so they need to rethink their strategy. Extra homework, detentions, no breaktimes. Punish the students without risking their safety.
If you don't agree with the schools rules then take your child to another one, as I have said in a previous post I used to walk 3 miles to Richard Aldworth as it was then without a phone, as my son's school said when it was about to open "mobiles are not allowed" but if you don't agree with that rule either do not let it be seen or feel free to choose another school.

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robertspet8 says...
10:57am Mon 6 Feb 12

GC31 wrote:
I'm sceptical how many stalkers, bullies and paedophiles etc. would be put off by a mobile phone. In fact I would say that certain makes and models could actually attract bullies, muggers etc. and I'll bet you wouldn't have time to get your phone out and make the call in a lot of situations.
I agree with GC31. The child is far more likely to be run over, while distracted by their mobile, than be abducted. The safety issue is a complete red herring.
The step dad is annoyed that he has been inconvenienced and he does have a point. It is not the parents who should be punished or inconvenienced. Suitable punishment should be handed out to the child, but the phone should also be returned to the child at the end of the school day.
That said, it has probably been counterproductive for the child, the school and the step dad to have this aired in The Gazette.

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coolbreeze1 says...
11:01am Mon 6 Feb 12

I've seen teachers using mobile phone during school time I think they should be setting an example.
I agree a student shouldn't use mobiles during school hours unless it's an emergency.

But for there safety they should be able to collect them after school

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Folkestone Saint says...
11:50am Mon 6 Feb 12

So as my son does not take his mobile to school he is not safe? what a load of rubbish, it is more about being told what to do and not liking it, not having their precious mobile's back at the end of the day is another form of punishment and a reminder when they do get it back to follow the rule's or don't it is only they who suffer as life will demonstrate

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coolbreeze1 says...
12:56pm Mon 6 Feb 12

Fool!!!!

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principal_skinner says...
1:32pm Mon 6 Feb 12

Perhaps the school needs to address more serious issues like teacher behaviour - that is leading by example.

Frequently teachers take and make calls, and respond to text messages during lessons. They also ignore the school 'one way' system. Practice what you preach!

I think the new head would do better to sort out the alleged pupil drug dealing before getting hung up on this.

As for confiscation, simply invoice the school for the time taken to recover the phone and take enforcement action in the County Court to recover it. It only costs £25 to do and they bow down every time.

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popleyrebel2 says...
2:31pm Mon 6 Feb 12

I know of a case where a teacher confiscated a phone and kept it over the weekend, quoting school rules, however, it emerged that the school had denied allegations of bad behavior in the classroom.
On this occasion students were running riot in the classroom (the teacher had lost control) this was captured on a mobile phone. The head teacher ordered a search (after hearing about the video) and a student name was put forward, the student was with others who were using their phones at the time of the search however, they were completely ignored as the one whose name had been put forward had their phone confiscated. The reason for that was to do search of the phone.

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BugBear says...
3:16pm Mon 6 Feb 12

No wonder the country is going to the dogs when you read some of the comments here. For goodness sake what example has this man set his child by airing his inbuilt dislike for authority, using his child as the conduit to bash the school. There should be a law against pushy and interfering parents interfering with the good work and education of children. What on earth is this man hoping to achieve by making himself and his child a target by getting this stupid and unnecessary dispute plastered all over a local paper, the mind boggles. And as for the excuse over 'protecting the child on the way to and from school' its just pathetic. Life is a risk and carrying a mobile phone is going to do very little to lesson that risk, talk about wrapping up children in cotton wool, how about teaching them to use their heads when confronted with danger as people have done for tens of thousands of years before now, and in a mobile phone free world, just a pathetic excuse that's all it is.

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spcleary says...
3:41pm Mon 6 Feb 12

Obviously a mixed bag of opinions. I will stand by my opinion and respect others. It is interesting that some people mention in their day they had to walk to School with no phones etc. I was one of those children. But it does not mean we ignore technology and the benefits, and pitfalls it sometimes brings. Mobile phones are here to stay. If the School says no mobile phones, then I fully respect that, and anyone using them during School time is wrong. But still people are missing the point. This is about child safety, not School policy. Anyone who thinks I am trying to make any other point is mistaken. I hope those parents who are mocking the safety aspect of this thread never regret their comments. There are dangers out there for our children and having a phone "after" School can help avoid those dangers. Yes we can all get run over by a bus or hit by a car. I am not saying that having a phone is going to ensure all children are safe, but it will help and could deter any potential threat if any would be attacker can see the child on the phone. As stated earlier, I hope no one never regrets their comments.

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principal_skinner says...
3:44pm Mon 6 Feb 12

Bugbear, the country has gone to the dogs because people like you are stuck in 1945.

I'm not sure if you have some form of dementia, or rose tinted glassed for the 'good ole days'.

Ruling children by threat or fear is, quite simply, abuse. It is no more unreasonable for a student to use a phone at school during breaks, than it is for any member of staff.

Respect is a two way street, not a process of the self righteous barking orders at minors because they think they are superior in some way. You want respect, bloody earn it you whining old ****.

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Folkestone Saint says...
3:49pm Mon 6 Feb 12

popleyrebel2 wrote:
I know of a case where a teacher confiscated a phone and kept it over the weekend, quoting school rules, however, it emerged that the school had denied allegations of bad behavior in the classroom. On this occasion students were running riot in the classroom (the teacher had lost control) this was captured on a mobile phone. The head teacher ordered a search (after hearing about the video) and a student name was put forward, the student was with others who were using their phones at the time of the search however, they were completely ignored as the one whose name had been put forward had their phone confiscated. The reason for that was to do search of the phone.
I can see who you support but what has your latest post got to do with this incident, as for the teacher losing control I think you may find it was the participating "students" that had lost control, also as I can't make a recording of for e.g. my daughter dropping baby jesus on his head in the school play why should your example be allowed to make a recording?

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robertspet8 says...
5:20pm Mon 6 Feb 12

The goverment's own website states that young people are more likely to be the victims of muggings because they are more likely to be carrying expensive items such as phones...
The online advice is to hand over what the mugger wants without offering any resistance.
So, whether the schoolchild has a phone or not is irrelevant because they will not be able to use it anyway!
Child safety is not an issue here and even if it is then relying on a mobile phone will only give a false sense of security.
For a child to be safe on the journey home from school there are many strategies other than a using a phone which will afford greater security: being in groups; keeping to main, busy thoroughfares; keeping parents informed of changing plans; and, if a phone is needed to achieve the former, making sure the phone does not get confiscated.

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popleyrebel2 says...
5:23pm Mon 6 Feb 12

Folkestone,, My point is, all phones/the use of mobile phones should be banned from schools, however, if there are rules against the use of mobiles then they should not be selective.
The example I used is a clear indication the selective use of the rules are being applied.
Furthermore, the example I used clearly indicates that the teacher/ teachers confiscated this mobile phones to find the video in order to protect their own interest, and “NOT” enforcing the school rules.
Would you to leave your mobile with a complete stranger or a teacher, who you don’t know personally, would you give them access to your personal details, I don’t think so.
When a phone is confiscated the student must have the right to protect whatever is on the phone by disconnecting before handing it over.

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popleyrebel2 says...
6:44pm Mon 6 Feb 12

Spcleary, was your child given the opportunity to lock/disconnect the mobile phone before it was confiscated???? And it would be interesting to know if others use their mobile phone during break time????

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InBasingstoke says...
11:50pm Mon 6 Feb 12

Wow I see why Basingstoke has been a Tory constituency for 126 out of the last 127 years...

Times Change what use is a pen? your parents/Grand parents did fine with a pencil or the good old ink plot and feather !

Things change oh yeah you know what's weird? as Mobiles have slowly come in... over the last 15 or so years you know what you don't see any more school fights?

Brighton Hill kids are now safe from the brutes of Aldworth.

This man is a bad example for his kid? Standing up for something?

Mrs Pankhurst was a horrible example to young girls then? standing up for what she believes ... going hey.... yeah these rules? they suck and they're stupid....

and actually although the device can be used for bullying the phones now (Smart phones) give something for bullies to do rather than beating someone up

and In Basingstoke... Brighton Hill school kids seem to be the ones who get followed a lot...

Anyway Mr Cleary Although you're the step-dad.... you should kinda suggest a move Brighton Hill is a controversial school... So I would suggest Cranbourne/Costello/
Bishop
as these 3 schools are the only ones in Basingstoke that have yet to have been put on Special Measures in the last few years.

Cranbourne also has many surplus as places.

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InBasingstoke says...
11:53pm Mon 6 Feb 12

Also... as it's been taken without any real consent and possession is 9/10ths of the law this could be classed as stealing.

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popleyrebel2 says...
12:03am Tue 7 Feb 12

InBasingstoke,
Thats one of the claims by the parents of the student in my example, the phone had been stolen, just to put the record straight, the video wasn’t on that phone.

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Folkestone Saint says...
8:48am Tue 7 Feb 12

InBasingstoke wrote:
Also... as it's been taken without any real consent and possession is 9/10ths of the law this could be classed as stealing.
As most students have NOT had their phones consfiscated they know the rules and comply, this lad broke the rules and knew that if caught he would have his phone confiscated not stolen as I am sure the police would have been involved, in my day we got the cane for wrong doing at least he did not get that

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InBasingstoke says...
8:50am Tue 7 Feb 12

Actuall it's the view of someone who know's one of the first things everyone knows about law thats away from murder.

well not view.... because if think about it for 3 seconds.... you would come to the realisation that it's actually theft. I'm nor a parent or a student.

The Internet is a human right now to.... as a smartphone is the only way to access it during lunch because schools are also strict about the use of computer rooms, the smart phone is actually the only access they would have to the internet and as this man is holding up a blackberry which is a smartphone that allows access to the internet. Taken the phone away has also breached human rights

I would like you all to get out of 1965 and embrace 2012 as it is

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Folkestone Saint says...
12:37pm Tue 7 Feb 12

InBasingstoke wrote:
Actuall it's the view of someone who know's one of the first things everyone knows about law thats away from murder. well not view.... because if think about it for 3 seconds.... you would come to the realisation that it's actually theft. I'm nor a parent or a student. The Internet is a human right now to.... as a smartphone is the only way to access it during lunch because schools are also strict about the use of computer rooms, the smart phone is actually the only access they would have to the internet and as this man is holding up a blackberry which is a smartphone that allows access to the internet. Taken the phone away has also breached human rights I would like you all to get out of 1965 and embrace 2012 as it is
Clutching at staws with that one are we not, if you encourage dissabedience at an early age they will have a not so long but a very hard life, the phone issue is a rule not a guideline at this and many schools, you haven't quoted health and saftey yet but I am sure you will find a way to squeeze it in

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Mighty Antar says...
7:35pm Tue 7 Feb 12

It still seems to me that the major issue here is one of parents not wishing to be inconvenienced by School rules rather than any real breakdown in child protection. Perhaps the real answer lies in working with the school to develop considered, robust and fair controls rather than picking holes in the ones you don't like.

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Jonty11 says...
11:08pm Tue 7 Feb 12

Fascinating debate - glad to see something gets everyone interested but I would suggest the issue is not one of child safety, nor wishing to break rules but one of reassurance/comfort.

The step father appears reassured that his child has his phone and can call him if there is an incident - fair enough.

His son feels comfortable having his phone in his pocket.

The school is perfectly within its rights to confiscate the phone for misuse during school hours.

The reality is his son is much more likely to be involved in an incident in part due to him having a mobile phone.

So where does this take us?

I'd suggest a school policy that requires all children to lock their mobile phones in their own lockers during the day. In the (extremely) unlikely event that a parent needs to get hold of the child urgently during the school day, they can do this via the school office - less urgent matters can be picked up via text at the end of the day.

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InBasingstoke says...
3:23am Wed 8 Feb 12

I really feel some people are missing the issue here

The school should not be keeping it over night. I understand if it was in class and the student was using it, it should be taken away but it should be returned at the end of that lesson or at the end of the day, not for parents to come pick it up.

Basingstokes a middle class town so most parents work untill 4/5/6pm So this policy they have is very pointless and time wasting.

Going of on a tangent too... it also costs the parents petrol money and it increases Co2 emmitions.

Also the locker Idea isn't pratical because lets face it... school lockers arn't secure... and they will get broken into.

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InBasingstoke says...
3:23am Wed 8 Feb 12

I really feel some people are missing the issue here

The school should not be keeping it over night. I understand if it was in class and the student was using it, it should be taken away but it should be returned at the end of that lesson or at the end of the day, not for parents to come pick it up.

Basingstokes a middle class town so most parents work untill 4/5/6pm So this policy they have is very pointless and time wasting.

Going of on a tangent too... it also costs the parents petrol money and it increases Co2 emmitions.

Also the locker Idea isn't pratical because lets face it... school lockers arn't secure... and they will get broken into.

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InBasingstoke says...
3:23am Wed 8 Feb 12

I really feel some people are missing the issue here

The school should not be keeping it over night. I understand if it was in class and the student was using it, it should be taken away but it should be returned at the end of that lesson or at the end of the day, not for parents to come pick it up.

Basingstokes a middle class town so most parents work untill 4/5/6pm So this policy they have is very pointless and time wasting.

Going of on a tangent too... it also costs the parents petrol money and it increases Co2 emmitions.

Also the locker Idea isn't pratical because lets face it... school lockers arn't secure... and they will get broken into.

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Best_Name_Ever says...
2:10pm Wed 8 Feb 12

@ InBasingstoke

And here I was thinking that Human Rights protected me from being dragged out of my house in the dead of night and being shot in the street.

This is exactly why the younger generation have a self inflated idea of Human Rights and use it at every twist and turn in order to avoid discipline. And to be fair on them, if this is what they are hearing from adults on forums such as this, I don't really blame them.

I very much doubt is against a Human Right to confiscate a mobile phone overnight, especially when the school's policies are clear for all to see.

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InBasingstoke says...
3:47pm Wed 8 Feb 12

Best_Name_Ever wrote:
@ InBasingstoke

And here I was thinking that Human Rights protected me from being dragged out of my house in the dead of night and being shot in the street.

This is exactly why the younger generation have a self inflated idea of Human Rights and use it at every twist and turn in order to avoid discipline. And to be fair on them, if this is what they are hearing from adults on forums such as this, I don't really blame them.

I very much doubt is against a Human Right to confiscate a mobile phone overnight, especially when the school's policies are clear for all to see.
I wasn't being serious...

I was just pointing out something out...
also The school should't keep it over night, there is no reason to.

You can't compare how kids are now to your generation because the world has changed...

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Best_Name_Ever says...
6:03pm Wed 8 Feb 12

*Sigh* My generation had mobile phones and internet. It's not a brand new thing to 2012.

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popleyrebel2 says...
7:20pm Wed 8 Feb 12

If the rule is no mobile phone then that means no mobile phones, however, if that rule is broken it should be treated as any other rule and the punishment for breaking the rules should be applied.
However, in the case of a mobile phone the punishment is for that phone to be confiscated (quite right) where there is problem, how long before the mobile phone is handed back and to whom.

For crying out loud there are far worse thing going on in our schools unchecked/unpunished for this to be threat to the school.
Confiscate the phone, let the student secure the phone; give it back at the end of the day.

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common_sense_prevails74 says...
9:40pm Wed 8 Feb 12

As any teacher in a school will testify, a school exists only to ensure successful outcomes for its students. It's not the phone, the IPOD, the chewing gum, the fizzy drinks, the dodgy uniform per se which is the issue, its the context these items set - that school is an extension of one's social life, the focus being taken away from learning. There is plenty of time outside school hours for socialising and relaxing - just as we all focus on the task in hand during our working day, so must our students. And for the record, as a teacher in Basingstoke for many years, I have yet to meet more than a handful of students who would disagree, because most of them would rather be taught rather than watch their teachers have to deal with these kinds of avoidable issues all day...

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BugBear says...
11:36pm Wed 8 Feb 12

common_sense_prevail
s74 wrote:
As any teacher in a school will testify, a school exists only to ensure successful outcomes for its students. It's not the phone, the IPOD, the chewing gum, the fizzy drinks, the dodgy uniform per se which is the issue, its the context these items set - that school is an extension of one's social life, the focus being taken away from learning. There is plenty of time outside school hours for socialising and relaxing - just as we all focus on the task in hand during our working day, so must our students. And for the record, as a teacher in Basingstoke for many years, I have yet to meet more than a handful of students who would disagree, because most of them would rather be taught rather than watch their teachers have to deal with these kinds of avoidable issues all day...
Thank you, at last an intelligent comment. My heart sinks when I read some of the remarks displayed. The country truly is going to the dogs judging by a high proportion of the opinions given here. Just common sense as common_sense_prevail
s74 points out 'any teacher in a school will testify, a school exists only to ensure successful outcomes for its students'. I don't mean to cause offence but I fear many of the commenter's here are no more than children and have not developed much past adolescence themselves bar in physical appearance, leading their nihilistic existence learning nothing, least of all respect for those more capable than themselves.

And by the way principal_skinner as you have been so offensive to me, I shall sink to your level. Judging by your remarks I expect the only respect you have ever achieved is by the very threat of fear you somehow in your weird twisted mind have accused me of, where that came from confounds me. You earn respect by example and that is something I doubt you have ever achieved.

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principal_skinner says...
6:00am Thu 9 Feb 12

Bugbear, I would sincerely hope there is some kind of special 'register' to keep people like you AWAY from vulnerable people and adults.

Your views and attitudes belong in a time long gone.

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popleyrebel2 says...
10:28am Thu 9 Feb 12

common_sense_prevail
s74 wrote

“As any teacher in a school will testify, a school exists only to ensure successful outcomes for its students. It's not the phone, the IPOD, the chewing gum, the fizzy drinks, the dodgy uniform per se which is the issue, its the context these items set” un-quote

I can believe the mixed message you have put forward, the quote (above) are not the “issue,” sorry, breaking schools rules are the issue. You go and say, its context these items set” what does that mean if they are Not a issue???

BugBear,
Please explain why you consider the comment to be common sense.

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Best_Name_Ever says...
12:54pm Thu 9 Feb 12

@Principle Skinner

I am really impressed with your debating skills - mind if I use your techniques when I feel backed into a corner?

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InBasingstoke says...
1:32pm Thu 9 Feb 12

Google Collingword College.... 2005 girl stabbed in the eye...

hmmmm

In Cbec a teacher got punched in the face trying to stop a fight involving knifes....

now tell me.... Mobile phones are a massive issue?

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