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School System Considers Jamming Students' Phones
An anonymous reader writes "The St. Ansgar, Iowa school system is considering buying cell-phone jamming equipment for up to $5000 if it is deemed legal. The use of the equipment would be suspended in the case of an emergency, but one has to wonder if they would be quick enough to shut it down should an emergency arise. 'A Federal Communications Commission notice issued in 2005 says the sale and use of transmitters that jam cellular or personal communications services is unlawful.'"
Here are a few flaws. For one the school system desperately needs reforming, they seem to be stuck in the 1950s or so. Cell phones, research and collaboration are a huge part of the real world. Cell phone use should be -encouraged- as they encourage collaboration. Use useful methods of assessing skills, critical thinking is perhaps the most important skill.
And really, you also fail to see that in an emergency such as a shooting, the chances of mass survival is greater if every student has a cell phone and can use it to call authorities.
Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
Let me guess, you're the same teacher in denial above who was demanding cites for several supposedly "outrageous examples" which in fact have happened, and been covered extensively in the media, recently, including Supreme Court cases...
Right. That sure would have been a winning strategy in limiting Columbine, no?
Benefit vs. Risk? I think they forgot about the unforseen. I guess that's why it's called "the unforseen". :-)
"Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell