Middle School Parenting: Cell Phones in School

My daughter got her cell phone taken away at school yesterday. According to the rules, a teacher can take a cell phone that's being used in class and turn it into the office ... where it has to stay until the end of the school year! I called the principal to talk about getting her phone back and he said, "A rule is a rule and I don't make any exceptions."

Yes, my daughter knew the rules (and chose to break them). And yes, she will have to take responsibility and pay the phone bill. Hopefully she'll think twice next year about texting messages during math class. But she's a first-time offender. I can understand turning it over to the parent and saying, "Next time it's a suspension," or something like that. But keeping the phone? That's going to force me to lose contact with my kid when she's nowhere near school (like on the weekend and during vacations). And that's not fair. There's no way we can afford to buy a new phone, either.

Honestly, I'm livid with my child. But I'm just as mad at the school. Something other than "zero tolerance" on the first offense would be nice. Because right now, the student isn't the real person being punished. The parent is.

You know what I really think? I think the school is trying to cover something up. I know cell phones are distracting and inappropriate to use in class. But maybe kids are sneaking them in and using them because they're bored. Maybe the teachers stink. Maybe they need a new curriculum.

Instead of looking at themselves, though, they're trying to shift the blame onto a piece of electronic equipment, and it's not fair at all.