Justice minister weighs in on cell phone use in schools
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Contact: Shannon Lebourne
Friday, April 9, 2010 – Minister for Justice and Attorney General Senator the Honourable Dr. Nicholas Frederick, has weighed in on the current discussion, on the move by the ministry of education to discontinue the use of cell phones in schools.
The attorney general says the ministry of education has the authority to control the learning environment.
“The school as is often said stands in the place of the parents. The expression loco parentis means stands in place of the parents. If the school authorities are not satisfied with the behaviour of students at the institution, if they feel the need to take measures to control the behaviour of students in that environment, I think it's their right to do so.”
Local school authorities have decided to restrict the use of cell phones in schools, an issue which has long been a source of public debate.
“The school” the justice minister says, “is not saying that a child cannot use her cell phone at all, but is saying within the school hours or within the classroom they may not use it.”
The minister indicated that the controlled use of the cell phone in certain environments and at certain functions, is nothing new. |
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