Digital age dilemmas

While I often bemoan the day-to-day surprises that come with getting older, I am grateful that I’m just barely old enough to be spared the now-ubiquitous debate about mobile phones in classes.

Back in the day, we didn’t get cell phones, we had car phones and beepers (remember beepers?) and the one kid who had a beeper in my sixth-grade class also wore a tie and carried a briefcase to school every single day, all of which at that time translated to immediate social death.

Later, of course, things changed. I’ve watched, bemused, as the debate has appeared, bloomed, and then come full circle until here we are, with California students navigating new phone rules this school year.

At San Diego Unified schools, for example, all mobile phones must be in the off position during class instruction and be out of view, and also should be kept in a secure place, such as a backpack or purse.

There are, however, many exceptions. So many, in fact, that instead of being a hard-and-fast rule, the cell phone changes look a bit like a web of prohibitions strung with some well-intended suggestions. Will it make a difference? Only time will tell.

Thoughts? Opinions? Let us know what you think by emailing news@timesofsandiego.com.