A Houston highschool was positioned on lockdown Friday after college students stormed out of their school rooms in protest of a brand new mobile phone ban.
James Madison Excessive Faculty employees ordered the shelter-in-place as a precaution after bodily altercations broke out on campus the day earlier than information of the brand new coverage was shared.
“The varsity is at present on lockdown as a consequence of concern over latest fights which have occurred on campus,” Principal Edgar Contreras instructed mother and father in a message obtained by Houston Chronicle.
“As you understand, we communicated yesterday that, starting on Monday, college students is not going to be allowed to make use of their cell telephones – at any time – whereas they’re inside the college constructing. Cell telephones have been on the middle of fights which have damaged out at our faculty,” he continued.
The highschool college students had been in an uproar because the faculty introduced the brand new guidelines, which might require them to show off their gadgets and go away them on the entrance desk at first of the college day.
The youngsters may solely choose up their telephones on the finish of the college day, or within the case of an emergency.
In a show of protest, massive teams of scholars walked out of their courses.
Many claimed the brand new coverage was a violation of their Fourth Modification rights that amounted to “unreasonable search and seizure.”
Others argued the college was punishing all the scholar physique for the actions of some college students who abused the few telephone privileges they’d beforehand been allowed.
“We now have tasks. Our mothers may want to succeed in us. We want our telephones,” scholar Stephanie Martinez instructed the Houston Chronicle.
“We’re cool staying off our telephones at school, however they shouldn’t simply take them from us.”
Houston Impartial Faculty District police had monitored the protest in case it escalated, because it had the day prior.
The HISD didn’t instantly reply to The Submit’s request for remark.
James Madison applied the strict coverage in an effort to scale back distractions contained in the classroom, in line with Contreras.
The varsity had labeled itself a “cell phone-free zone” at first of the educational 12 months, stating college students would solely be permitted to make use of their gadgets if allowed by a instructor.
Offenders would first be issued a warning, however a second offense would lead to confiscation and a $15 administrative price, in line with a flier launched earlier this 12 months.
Colleges throughout the nation have been grappling with cell telephones in school rooms, with some turning towards modern options to discourage distractions.
A North Carolina Excessive Faculty final month took down the mirrors in all its bogs to cease college students from filming TikToks.
The varsity has reportedly already seen a lower within the period of time their youngsters are spending within the restrooms.