Clinton W. Pickering and Ross Sheil, Gleaner Writers 
MUSCHETT HIGH School in Trelawny has banned the use of cellular phones among students, saying the phones presented a clear and present danger to life on the school's campus.
"We have seen some parents, guardians and other persons invading school campuses because their children or friends had problems with teachers, or other students," Muschett High School principal Denham McIntyre said.
TWO DISRUPTIVE INCIDENTS
He said the ban at Muschett, which came into effect on Monday, followed two disruptive incidents at his school, one of which required the intervention of the police.
The move is nothing new among high schools as several have already imposed bans. In the Summer of 2003, Wolmer's Boys and Wolmer's Girls schools in Kingston had banned the use of cellular phones, imposing a $1,000 fine and a day's suspension for those caught in possession. The schools had acted following widespread reports of thefts and robberies among students and disruptions caused to classes by students making and receiving texts and cellular calls.
It also follows the recent murders of an 18-year-old girl at Queen's School, St. Andrew on March 15 and a 17-year-old girl from Yanice Hall, Spanish Town on March 10. Both were stabbed to death outside their schools when they refused to give up their cellular phones to robbers.
Raymond Pryce, Director of Research, Information and Communication at the Consumer Affairs Commission had previously investigated the subject.
"Parents should buy cheaper phones that are not so attractive to robbers and to teach their children to use them appropriately," Mr. Pryce said. "It is a matter of parental choice and advice."
He added that the commission would consider reviewing the matter following recent developments.
Dr. Grace Kelly, President of the Jamaica Society of Guidance Counsellors agreed there should be a ban when cellular phones caused disruption, but cautioned that some students may need their very cellular phones, "to be able to call the police or a teacher for protection."
PHONES ARE MORE FOR ADULTS
Suzette Bailey, Mobile Services Manager of cellular retailers Anbell Telecommunications, told The Gleaner, "phones are more for adults than children but in this case, if they are causing a disruption then I can understand the school's decision."
But Ms. Bailey said a few 'bad apples' should not lead to a blanket ban across the island's schools, saying the evidence would suggest that most children used their phones responsibly.
