Cease and Desist on Education

When reading through my rss feeds I came across Steve Dembo's post

When in doubt, ban EVERYTHING

I couldn't believe what I was reading, thinking this was some early April fool's joke.

PRINTER'S NO. 410
	THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
	HOUSE BILL
No. 363 Session of 2009
	INTRODUCED BY CRUZ, YOUNGBLOOD, MUSTIO, CALTAGIRONE, KORTZ,
	REICHLEY, READSHAW, SABATINA, SIPTROTH AND THOMAS,
	FEBRUARY 11, 2009
	REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 11, 2009
	AN ACT
1	Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2	act relating to the public school system, including certain
3	provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4	schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5	laws relating thereto," in pupils and attendance, further
6	prohibiting possession of telephone pagers and certain
7	electronic devices.
8	The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9	hereby enacts as follows:
10	Section 1. Section 1317.1 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.
11	30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added
12	December 22, 1989 (P.L.749, No.103), is amended to read:
13	Section 1317.1. Possession of [Telephone Pagers] Electronic
14	Devices Prohibited.--(a) The possession by students of
15	telephone paging devices, commonly referred to as beepers,
16	cellular telephones and portable electronic devices that record
17	or play audio or video material shall be prohibited on school
18	grounds, at school sponsored activities and on buses or other
19	vehicles provided by the school district.
20	(b) The prohibition against beepers and cellular telephones
1	contained in subsection (a) shall not apply in the following
2	cases, provided that the school authorities approve of the
3	presence of the beeper or cellular telephone in each case:
4	(1) A student who is a member of a volunteer fire company,
5	ambulance or rescue squad.
6	(2) A student who has a need for a beeper or cellular
7	telephone due to the medical condition of an immediate family
8	member.
9	Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20090HB0363PN0410 2

There it is. After all the advancements in Education and Technology. After most realizing the potential in non-traditional methods of learning. We take a huge step back. I am wondering how Chris Lehmann is going deal with this news at his school. I wonder how would you respond if it happen in your school. Maybe Liz Kolb can post about this topic and how it is such a bad idea. When I first read this, I thought about my school and the troubles we are going through righ t now. We are cutting everything and anything we can to save money. No more professional development conferences. No chance of introducing new technology that will cost money. In reality we are banning technology in many ways and masking that using an overhead for students to copy notes as 21st century learning.

It is a shame that a State finds the need to control the potential in a learning opportunity. I can understand not wanting students tape other students in the locker room or bathroom as it has come common that pictures of the sort are popping up on myspace. I can understand a school doesn't want to be liable if something bad happens on school grounds. I can understand a school want to brush under a table if a teacher/bus driver does something wrong. I do not understand why many who do not know anything about education try to run the schools. It is time for schools to take responsibility and accountability for themselves and lets look at them governing themeselves. Thats just my thoughts.