Cell phones in schools was a topic in a KSPR Download segment. We asked if you think they should be banned in the classroom. KSPR's Emily Rittman told us how the Stockton school district plans to tighten its ban next year. Students may have cell phones, but they must be kept in a locker and turned off. You can watch her full report by clicking on the link under "Related Content."

Many viewers and texters had something to say on this issue. A lot of you brought up the issue of safety in the classroom and how cell phones would be necessary for students to use in case of an emergency situation, like a shooting.

We encourage you to keep the heated debate going by adding your thoughts below. Here are your Talk Backs...

“NEVER! kids need them for communication just as bad as adults do!”

“No”

“No sometimes it's the only way for a parent to have contact.” –Charles

“Yep theres no reason to have cell phones in schools its a big distraction"

“Schools do ban phones but kids dont listen”

“No. I feel better knowing my child has her cell phone in case of an emergency”

“I dont think so, i think it is important that kids are able to contact parents at all times, they need to be put away during class though.” –Sam

“No, I think now these days,kids need to have cell phones in school,I mean look at all the things that r going on at school.let them have them as long as they know there's a time and a place to use them.” –Cheena

“Yes, i have 3 kids and i would rather my kids be focused on the lesson instead of what their friends are doing.”

“No.” –Kevin

“No, I don’t think so. I know they say some kids use them to cheat on tests and such but I don’t think all kids should suffer because of a few. At my daughters school the policy is if they see them during class time they will take them and parents must come and retrieve them. My daughter and I text each other through out the day if needed with questions or info for each other, she checks hers like during lunch and stuff. I think as a parent and with busy lives it is a great way for families to stay connected. If the only reason schools are worried is that kids will cheat, well kids will find another way to cheat just like they have always done so. Kids, who make good grade, apply themselves etc shouldn’t be punished for the few that are bad.” –Angela

“No sometimes it's the only way for a parent to have contact”

“No!”

“Only if the teachers aren't allowed to use them either!”

“I think cell phones should be banned in schools. the kids need to pay attention in school, and dont need to be distraced in class. the education is also being funded by taxes or by the family so the kids should be gratful for the education.” –Zach

“Yes, cells should be banned during school. Contrary to what kids think, phones are NOT more important than their education.”

“Cells should be controlled in class however Stocktons approach is going to be cntr productive there is better solutions”

“Yes they should be banned our students go to school for learning.” –Nicole

“YES! We survived school without them.”

“No i dont think they should be totally banned. absolutly not 2 b used in class, but my daughter has one and its 4 me 2 have contact if need be”

“My son attends Parkview High. I called one day at noon to let him know his usual ride wasn't picking him up and that I would be there ten minutes before school got out. He needed to know not only because it would be early, but because I park in a different spot than his usual ride. I waited until school got out before I finally walked inside to wait
for him - he never got the message! When he didn't find his usual ride, he waited inside the school - which is what he's been told to do. Now, I called at least 2 hours before he was to come out, but he never got the message. So, we bought him a cell phone. Since we buy the minutes, we oversee how they are used. He is not to use them for anything other than emergencies. So far, he's used none (it's been a month since we purchased minutes). I can call him at lunch if I need to get a hold of him for any ER - or when school lets out. I feel the kids almost need a cell - for the parents to get a hold of them. What if there was a tornado or other ER and there was no other means of communication? I think maybe having the kids deposit the phones in a box before each class & picking them up afterwards might be a better idea. That way they can only check them between classes.
Perhaps have ID'd boxes the same as we do for the younger children - so they don't have to search through for their phone or so one kid won't grab another kid's "better" phone after class. I don't really know a solution, but I don't think taking them away altogether is a good idea.” –Peggy, Springfield

“I think the students should be aloud to have cell phones in case of an emergency”

“As a parent who has been in several emergency situations, I feel that breaking bad news to a child (student) on a cell phone or text messaging is being very immature. You're not considering the consequences of how that child (student) will handle the situation. An emergency, such as the death of a family member or even a pet, should be done in person. Call the school and talk to the principal or counselor. They're well trained in how to handle these problems.”

“If I could trust the school system to always guarantee the safety of my child it would be different, I don't trust them. I want to be able to call my daughter in the case of an emergency and hear her voice. If there were a Columbine style shooting, and the school was in lock-down...and she was inside....that cell phone is a lifeline for me. Bottom line is...she's MY child, I have the final word, not the school. I understand and support heavy penalties for in class usage. But that cell phone is to stay on her body for worst case scenario.” –Andrea

“Well i think personally that cell phones should be allowed during school just in case a student has an emergency”

“I think cell phones should be banned from school, while driving, working or anytime U should be concentrating on something more important.”

“No, I dont think schools should ban cell phones. If I give my child a cell phone I expect it to be on them at all times and to be used responsibly. Are they gonna break the rules, of course they are, thats part of being a kid. We all did it and we payed for those mistakes. We should know by now as a society that placing bans on anything that involves children sledom ever works.”

“Hello, i think that children should be able to have cell phones in school because what if there is a serious emergency off of school grounds?”

“I think kids should be able to take them but must be turned off without unless they have permission. It is a place to learn.”

“I wanted to get my comment to you before I said this. There was a story about 2 years ago involving a high school student who on his lunch break was talking on his cell phone on school property. The principle saw him and told him to hang it up and the kid explained that he was talking to his mother and the principle took the phone away and hung up the phone. The kids mother was serving in Iraq and as you know, anyone serving only gets certain times to call. Food for thought. Lets put the parents back in charge of what their kids do and stop allowing the school systems in our country to make parenting decisions for our kids.”

"I feel that cell phones should be allowed in schools.as long as the kids are not talking on the phone in class then what is the problem.I see it this way...iF students want to text the whole time in class instead of listening then that's on them...let them fail the course...then when their parents ask why they are failing then you tell the parents that their teens choose to text rather than listen and learn. They will get it sooner or later." -Erica

"I see this rule from both sides, but i got 3 days of ISS last week because my mother had an emergency in the family and i was trying to find out if everything was okay so i texted her at lunch. Students need cell phones for emergencies and if there using it to talk to there friends then they should get ISS but not for a family emergency!" -Steffy

"Parents need to have faith in our school district that their children are safe at school. What did you, as a parent do when you were in school 20 years ago WITHOUT a cellphone? Times have changed alot, especially the students in HS. Students have lost respect for rules and will do whatever it takes it to do what THEY want. This is a great start. stay strong!Rule and Respect start at HOME."

"Hang up and get to work cell phones are not allowed in many work places. You do not need them at school. This should apply to teachers as well." -Freddy

"My name is Nathan I am a student at Stockton High. The no cell phone thing is crazy! If something happen to someone cell phones are the quickest way to get help. I am a first responder and I am on Capilinger Mills Voulenteer Fire Department. So by me having my cell phone allows me to get help faster. Or say something happen to my parents thats the only way i would find out. I do see both sides of the story too. If the student is disturbing class or not paying attention then take the phone away." -Nathan

"These are all insightful comments... it makes me question something I took for granted... At first I thought they didn't belong at school... now I think there IS a place for cell phones at school. But also as a teacher, I think they should not be available during class. Listening to parents concerns and some of the safety reasons FOR cell phones in school, I would like students to be able to have phones with them during the day, just not have access to them while class is underway." -Joe Daues

"I think it is important for students to have phones. Say a girl got raped and went to the bathroom to call a parent or 911. What if you have a family emergency and need your child. They are in a different class room for some reason no one knows for sure. I call my daughter at school if I need her to call me at her first opportunity. I call 4 or 5 times in a row if it is an emergency. I think they should be kept out of sight. Students should be punished if not. Theft will rise." -Robbie

"Our school has not and will not allow cell phones outside of their locker.Texting,& ringing to disturb class is not necessary. As a teacher I am glad to see our administration enforce this rule. If we see it, it goes to the office. Students do not want their cell phones sent to the office on Friday, especially, and Principal not being available to enforce discipline that day and the phone being held in the office until Monday.Students learn this rule very quickly." -Richard

"What I wonder is if they are having the problems listed above bully, inappropriate pictures and cheating? She say they are being proactive so to me that would be a no to that question. Just because those things are happening across the nation doesn't mean they will happen here." -Angie

"At first I was for banning cell phones in school, but then thought about what goes on in the schools lately with all the shootings. I think it is important to make contact with the outside." -Van

"I understand your thinking, but I do believe that a 911 call was placed by a student during a school shooting. A cell phone could be the difference between life and death. Just a concerned citizen that is looking at both sides. Which outweighs the other?" -Shirley