CELLBUSTERS

SCHOOL DISTRICT 82's proposed policy banning camera-cellphones from locker
rooms, washrooms and other places where they might be used to invade the
privacy of students caused a stir with reactions from "how dare they" to
"go for it."

And "go for it" is what school trustees should do. It's hard to imagine any
use a student might have for a camera-cellphone in a classroom or anywhere
else in an institution of learning.

This is not to suggest that every student will use a cellphone in an
unsavoury fashion. But generations of people received their education and
got along quite well thank you in the schools of their day without
requiring a phone.

Schools are places of learning, not a downtown cafe or mall or even movie
theatre where incessant ringing or beeping followed by loud talking has
become the unfortunate norm.

The real question is how the proposed policy, if adopted, will be enforced.
If teachers continue to be hard-pressed in doing their regular duties and
support workers have been cut back, then having the people needed to put
the muscle behind the policy might be a problem. The proposed policy
regulating cellphone use in schools is one of three the school district is
considering.

Also good to see is the proposed policy on smoking. Right now there's that
ages-old tradition of the smoke pit. But no more if school trustees have
their way in imposing a no-puff zone of anywhere from 50 metres to several
blocks away from school property.

The policy suggests there would be a series of disciplinary measures up to
and including a $40 fine for those found in contravention of this policy.

But while this sounds tough and uncompromising, the proof in the pudding
will again be how the policy, if adopted, is enforced.

After all, it's been four years since the so-called "drug free zones" were
set up around schools and we're not aware of one charge, let alone a
conviction, that stemmed from narcotics-related activity within these zones.

The third policy under consideration is to conduct locker searches at
random for narcotics and to bring in drug-sniffing dogs as required.

Locker searches aren't new and drug dogs have been used before. But the
current policy says searches can only be justified on reasonable grounds.
There may be something a little disquieting about the idea of random
searches. But drug use on school grounds or using schools as a safe haven
for drug stashes cannot be condoned.

Copies of the proposals are at the school district office and the board
meetings March 11.