NEW YORK – New York City will continue its ban on cell phones in public schools.
The announcement was made by Mayor Michael Bloomberg after a school official hinted that a change in the policy might be considered. Bloomberg, however, said that city schools will continue to prohibit cell phones, pagers, iPods and BlackBerrys.
The ban has been in effect for quite some time, but up until recently, was not enforced unless a student used the equipment in class. In April, however, New York City schools began conducting surprise security sweeps, using metal detectors to check for weapons.
Many parents are angry about the confiscation of the phones, saying the devices provide an important way to contact their children at school. According to the New York Times, the teachers’ union urged that students be allowed to carry their cell phones but not use them. Some other city officials have come out in opposition of the ban.
