Students in Texas required to pay $15 to get back cell phones

Kids are growing up in an age where they too need to be connected with the world through the use of their cell phone. It's not uncommon anymore seeing children and teenagers using their handsets to send a quick text. At the same time, the use of these devices have become a hindrance in the halls of schools across the nation. While we can praise the wonders of what these handsets can do, it can also prove to be a distraction in the educational walls of a school. Throughout some of the school districts in Texas, they are enforcing a new policy that can penalize students caught using their mobile phones in the class room. Some even allow teachers to fine students $15 for a first time offense and then requiring parents to come in and pay an additional $15 if they are caught again. Another school district implementing a similar program has managed to produce more than $100,000 over two years. The money is only handled by school principals which goes towards enrichment activities such as scholarships for students or purchase art supplies for a class. In addition, none of the money is being used to fill a deficit – goes to show that the well being of the students goes first in hand. Some praise the new policy while others say it's a bit over the top with concerns about  some teachers using cell phones during class time.

source: ABC news via Phonedog