The principal of the Latter Day Saints (L.D.S.) Church College, Laulu Tuugatiti Leauanae, is calling for a policy to confiscate mobile phones from students during school hours.
The call comes as cell phones are increasingly becoming more of an issue for schools with different schools holding different cell phone policies. Speaking to the Weekend Observer, Laulu said that having a policy to confiscate phones from students would ensure the safety of the student in their classes as well as their studies.
“The problem with cell phones is that some students abuse its use,” he said.
“Other students either go on Facebook or Youtube. This becomes an issue because they spend more time online and are not able to focus on their studies."
He also said that the policy of their school on cell phones is “out of sight.”
“We do not allow cell phones in the classrooms,” said Laulu.
“Students are permitted to carry their cell phones, but they should turn it off or not have them out at any time unless there is an emergency or health and safety related issues.”
According to Laulu, this has been the policy of the school since 2007 with fewer problems recorded each year.
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“Any student caught violating this policy will have their cell phone confiscated and it will be given back to them only when the parent comes by to pick it up,” he said.
“The students already know the policy so there is no excuse whatsoever."
Laulu said the process is already laid out to the students and he believes that with the help of the parents, students can meet expectations.
“It’s good to have a phone but we must also teach students the correct principles of having a mobile phone,” he said.
“Students must learn how to control and ensure that they are using their mobile phones wisely."
Students who were caught and had their cell phones confiscated were upset about the policy.
“Some cell phones cost us a lot of money and it’s lying idle in the teacher’s office." said one of the students who did not want to give his name.
“In some cases we get our phones back at the end of the year and that is a long time.”
On the other hand, Mr. Leauanae said that the confiscation of student cell phones depends on their attitude.
“We give chances to the students to get their cell phones back however if they do it again and again we also reserve the right to either send their parents in, put them in detention, or even suspend them just so they could learn," said Mr. Leauanae.
“The answer is not telling the students to not have a cell phone but to teach them how to use it with care and with good purpose."
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