Blame parents for cellphone coddling

As a retired teacher, I would like to respond to Sherry Lajiness's letter regarding Glenbard North's proposed cellphone rewards program. I completely agree that the taxpayers should not have to foot one dollar toward such an absurd program.

I also understand her frustration with no consequences for students who break the rules regarding cellphone use in class.

She posed several questions of why students are not being told "No" to cell possession in class. I'll tell you in one word why students get away with this - parents.

Over the years, on several occasions, I had parents complain to me, another educator or to administrators about how the schools were infringing on their children's right to privacy by taking their cellphones when brought to class. Some even threatened to sue the school.

On one trip to Washington, D.C., students were told not to bring their phones into a small theater and instructed to leave the phones on the bus. One student disregarded a fair request, brought his phone in and had it on during the production. When his phone was taken and held until the end of the class trip, the next day his parents were in the principal's office screaming (and I mean screaming) that we had violated his rights.

Yes, one word - parents.

Judith Graff

Arlington Heights