These days teenagers seem to be constantly connected to their cell phones but texting, let alone yacking on the ubiquitous gizmos would certainly be disruptive in the classrooms. But how about the corridors and the lunch room? For the first time this year, North Penn is allowing students to use their cell phones in the hallways, the cafeteria and in the courtyard, said Principal Burt Hynes. However the classrooms will remain cell phone-free zones. “The bottom line is, the kids carried cell phones, their parents texted them,” Hynes said. “This isn’t worth fighting.” Hynes said the school’s rule against cell phone use needed revision. Now “we have far fewer confrontations,” he said. “It’s a less antagonistic environment in the hallways. The students are very cooperative. They’ve been very respectful and they look at the rules around cell phones as reasonable.” Tomas Gimenez, 17, a North Penn senior from Lansdale, said, “I think the policy is fair. I don’t use my cell phone much in school ... It makes sense if the teacher is teaching, you shouldn’t use a cell phone.” “I think it’s convenient,” said Courtney Santos, 17, a senior from Hatfield. “Whereas last year a lot of people got in trouble for using their cell phones a lot. Now they can use them in the hallways.” Souderton Area High School began allowing students to use cell phones to text in the hallways and during lunch and study hall last year, updating a former policy of forbidding their use. Principal Sam Varano said it’s been working out well.
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