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.'"

Comments

WTF?

[TheRaven64]

Is a school rule to turn off phones in class not sufficient? Why do they need to jam them?

Re:I might be too old...

[Seumas]

I didn't say 'MOST', I said 'MANY'.

And anyone who marked my comment flamebait has obviously not talked to very many of today's teachers from whom it's not too often difficult to get an admission that they simply don't give a fuck. Not necessarily because they're just shitty people (though that is some times true), but because they've given up all hope and have been shat out by the system that doesn't reward or support excellence.

Re:back in my day

[lgw]

You cannot make studens pay attention by any means other than being interesting. The texting is not the issue.