By Mark David Blum, Esq.

The newest fad in education is the concept of pre-emptive collective punishment. Educators, administrators, and teachers start with an hypothesis based on conjecture, and then so as to assure that theoretical possibility does not occur, they ban and punish and entire student body. You would think there is no lasting damage and that collective punishment in schools is the best way to manage large groups of hormonal teenagers. The problem is that these same students accept collective punishment as being the norm and allow that policy to continue forth in civilized society. How many laws and rules are in place today because of the principle of what someone “might do”?

Today the attack is on technology. Schools are banning IPods, cellphones, and other electronic devices. The theory is that these items MAY be used to cheat on a test and so hence, nobody is allowed. Folks here at MarkBlum.com refer to this as being ‘because the baby cannot chew steak, we adults have to drink only milk’.

At least one student from a local high school is fed up with this offensive policy. Published anonymously after editorial consideration, this student makes the case better than can we.

“You can’t have that” and “That’s not allowed” are quickly becoming the most frequently used phrases at Westhill High School. A new rule was put in place for the 2006-2007 school year that bans the use of all electronic devices during school hours. This rule was passed in the spirit of limiting as many freedoms as possible to better educate the students. Of course it is logical to ban use of these devices in a classroom out of respect for the teacher, and because that does interfere with one’s education. But does using a phone or Ipod during lunch, a study hall, or walking down the hall disrupt the educational process?

Teresa Lesiuk would probably say that the answer to that question is fairly obvious. “The Effect of Music Listening on Work Performance” is a study that was done in 2005 on the psychology of music. It indicates that environments with music help mood and increase quality of work. There are countless other studies that show strong correlations between music and success. When the goal of schools is said to be to educate children and help them succeed, one would think that children would be allowed, and even encouraged to listen to music while studying or doing other schoolwork. Instead, the mere thought of an Ipod will send a faculty member running over yelling “Give me that!”

I’ve asked many teachers what benefits I get out of not being able to use a phone or Ipod in the aforementioned situations. So far, I have not received a satisfactory response. Most teachers shrug and say that it is just a rule and the way things are. That is not good enough. The Nuremberg Laws were also just rules and the way things were. While clearly a drastic example, it is the same principle. Is that the proper message to send young people; accept the status quo no matter what?

In a world where one cannot turn on a TV, radio, or open a newspaper without seeing news of murders and kidnappings, most parents feel the need to know exactly where their child is and what they are doing at all times. The use of cell phones is the most efficient way to do that. A certain feeling of comfort goes along with knowing that at any given time, a parent can call and check on their child. Doing this however, is against school rules. (The school’s argument is that the parent can call the school, and have them page their son/daughter. This is sound in theory, but in reality does not work. The school can’t even keep track of students. Ironically, most students will agree that it is easier to skip a class than to make a phone call in school.) Although most administrators in public schools forget this fact, their job is to serve the taxpayers. And if the taxpayers would like to remain in contact with their son or daughter through a cell phone, then they should be able to.

Instead of finding new ways for students to expand their horizons and experience new things, administrators are coming up with more things that students can’t do. How have schools strayed so far from their original purpose?

So query again what is it that you are teaching the next generations? Punish all of society because of what may happen by one of that society. This concept, so wholly un-American, is the actual manifestation of Christian values. After all, theirs is an entire paradigm premised upon the innocent dying for the sins of the guilty.

It is time to treat students as they really are; adults in training. Failing to do so, we will end up with more tyranny and ignorance dominating our society.