| Releases
& Statements
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 11, 2007
Contact: Sarah Krauss
(212) 669-4193; (917) 541-0936
Release #: 058-2007
Public Advocate Gotbaum: On-going Cell Phone Ban May Pose Threat To New York City School Children
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum today released the following letter to Department of Education Chancellor Joel Klein, citing concerns that the on-going cell phone ban may pose a threat to New York City school children. Gotbaum said that as long as cell phones are banned, many innovative and practical emergency systems are not possible in New York City. Moreover, teachers and administrators simply do not have access to all of the tools they need to protect children in their school. Gotbaum's letter comes one day after an armed student tragically managed to wound several students and teachers in Cleveland.
The full text of the letter is below:
Joel I. Klein
Chancellor
NYC Department of Education
52 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007
By Fax and U.S. Mail
Dear Chancellor Klein:
I am concerned that the on-going ban of cell phones poses a threat to New York City school children. In today’s world, cell phones have become an essential tool for protecting children. Yesterday, an armed student tragically managed to wound several students and teachers in Cleveland. With this increased danger, especially in light of school shootings, parents and administrators need to have the ability to get in touch with children at all times.
As further evidence, we need only look as far as Queens: On September 28th, a student was apprehended on the St. John’s University campus while carrying a loaded rifle. School officials reacted quickly and ordered a campus-wide lockdown. They were able to inform the 20,000 students, faculty, and personnel by employing a new emergency notification system that sent e-mails and text messages to those on the campus within a matter of minutes. Thanks to these proactive steps taken by the St. John’s University administration, students walked away unharmed.
Nationwide, schools like St. John’s University are putting emergency notification systems – via text message and email – into place. Since last April’s tragic Virginia Tech shooting, high schools and colleges across the country have been using this technology to notify large groups of students instantaneously about emergency situations.
But as long as cell phones are banned, these innovative and practical emergency systems are not possible here. New York City teachers and administrators simply do not have access to all of the tools they need to protect children in their school.
Here is a simple idea: If a child is caught abusing a cell phone, school personnel should confiscate the phone. A common-sense cell phone policy, such as the ones in use in the public school systems of other major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami, would allow us to maintain effective learning environments while also keeping our children safe and giving parents peace of mind.
Sincerely,
Betsy Gotbaum
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