School Supplies Go High Tech in Waterford

When students go back to school today, they won't just be bringing notebooks, pens and textbooks. This year, they'll also be bringing smart phones, tablets, and e-readers with the school's blessing. 

In years' past, students were prohibited from using cell phones in Waterford's schools. Under Waterford School District's new policy approved by the Board of Education last week, however, personal electronics are not only permitted, their use is actually encouraged. Students will be allowed to use privately-owned technological devices during instructional time, as teachers permit. 

"This policy is exactly what we needed to have the ability and freedom to think about [electronic devices] as an educational tool rather than a distraction," said Waterford High School Principal Andre Hauser.  

As the new high school is equipped with wi-fi throughout, he notes, it makes sense to take advantage of high speed internet access. In an age when we have information at our fingertips, Hauser said, students should be able to look up answers to questions. What's more, he added, schools should take an active role in showing students how to use these devices for educational purposes.  

Having come from a school district where students were allowed to use their smart phones or I-pads to access information during class, Hauser was instrumental in helping craft the new policy.  

"My experience was teachers would set ground rules," said Hauser. "Kids want to know where the line is and most don't want to go over it."

The new school policy draws the line at students using the school's Internet connection to access inappropriate material online. Additionally, students are prohibited from accessing unauthorized school technological resources.

The rules make it clear that sending any kind of harassing, threatening, or intimidating messages, or engaging in cyberbullying, isn't just a violation of school policy, it may also be a crime.   

The new rules allow administrators to search personal electronic devices if they believe students have violated the policy. Board of Education members had some debate over that particular rule, but in the end they determined that students don't have the same expectation of privacy on school property that they might have elsewhere. The school, for instance, is entitled to search students bags and lockers at any time. 

The policy limits such a search to specific material a teacher has reason to believe may be on a student's device in violation of school rules or state or federal law. Hauser said that in his experience it's rare that an administrator has cause to search a student's cell phone.