As more parents say yes to cell phones, schools still say no

The bell rings, the students stream out of school - and pull out their cell phones.

Though scarce a few years ago, cell phones have become a common method of communication. For parents, cell phones are vital tools that allow them to keep in touch with their children. For students, they’re a means of communicating with friends and family. For teachers, they’re often a disruption in the classroom, though sometimes they can be a tool.

Several states, including Arkansas, ban the use of cell phones in schools or allow school districts to ban them.

Arkansas Code Annotated 6-18-502 states that “any paging device, beeper or similar electronic communication device” is banned from school campuses except items used for health ...