DiLullo: Taking Away Students' Cell Phones Is 'Treacherous Territory'

A bill proposed by state Sen. John Tassoni (D-Smithfield, North Smithfield) restricting cell phone use in school poses some difficulty when it comes to taking phones away from students, Supt. Dr. Bernard DiLullo said during a recent interview.

"I think we need to avoid that," DiLullo explained. "School districts have their own policies on how to handle cell phones (and) I think you run into treacherous territory when you take a cell phone away for any length of time."

Tassoni's bill (read the text here), Senate 2011-0764, would prohibit any use of cell phones by students during school hours, and would impose penalties including loss of cell phones for the remainder of the school year for a fourth offense.

While DiLullo acknowledged that, in Johnston, cell phone use "is a moderate concern," he added: "I wouldn't say it's running rampant."

He also said that the imposition of a policy from the General Assembly may not be the best way to deal with the issue.

"For any cell phone policy to be effective, you have to have the parents on board with it," DiLullo explained.

During a recent phone interview, Tassoni explained the bill, one of five proposed by the state Special Senate Commission on Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats, was a response to school administrators who "wanted a state law so they could say to parents 'This is what the state law is, and this is what we have to do.'"

Tassoni also said informing parents was another key goal of the cyberbullying commission's proposals.

"I don't think people realize what happens on a day-to-day basis with cell phones in the schools," Tassoni explained. "I don't think parents realize what kind of a problem it is until it happens to them."

Noting the testimony heard by the commission — available on the commission's website here — Tassoni said it was clear to him that school officials need state law to back up their district policies.

"Just by having a policy, the administrators didn't think it has the teeth that it needs — it's a policy, not a law," Tassoni explained. "People ignore policies all the time, but you can't ignore state law."

The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee, and may be heard as early as this week, Tassoni said.

Local Policies

In Johnston, students who are caught using cell phones in school must turn over the devices to the school resource officers in the middle and high schools. Parents must then go to the school and retrieve the phone in order for the student to get it back.

DiLullo said that having the officers hold the cell phone "for safekeeping" has proven to be the most agreeable arrangement among students, parents, and staff.

And while the typical infraction stems from students using their phones to avoid school work or paying attention in class, DiLullo said that he's seen a rise in the use of phones to access social networking sites like Facebook.

"I think a bigger issue at this point is social networking options for students, and using those social networking options to bully other students," DiLullo explained. "Parents absolutely need to be educated on the dangers of that, (and) it's really getting in the way of our mission of teaching and learning."

During a separate interview, Ferri Middle School Resource Officer Ptlm. Charles Psilopoulos said: "A lot more parents are concerned over the stuff kids are posting on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter — you're starting to see a lot more parent involvement (and) I think we need to see a lot more of that."

At the end of March, Congressman James Langevin and Tassoni addressed Ferri students on using the Internet and social networking sites safely; Psilopoulos said he feels "we need to have something like that for parents, because it starts at home."

Too many parents, Psilopoulos said, let their kids use online sites with little or no supervision.

"The parents need to be more aware and more on top of what's going on at home on that computer," he explained. "I know it's difficult — I have a 6-year-old son, and he knows more about my phone and computer than I do."

Psilopoulos — who's been working in the local school for seven years — said he understands the challenge facing parents when it comes to giving their kids time on the computer.

"This is their leisure time — there's no more going outside to play," he explained.

Asked for advice he'd give parents, Psilopoulos replied: "You want to limit the time on the computer and monitor where they're going on the computer — a lot of parents I see today want to be a friend to their kids (but) you also have to be a parent to your kids, as well."