What stupidity! British school bans camera phones

A British high school has banned camera phones because the administrators are morons. Well, actually, that wasn't how the article from the January 7, 2004 BBC article put it...but they should have!

Here's the complete BBC story:

"Shoeburyness High School near Southend banned the latest mobiles amid concern they could be used to take 'indecent' pictures.

"Head teacher Chris Martin told BBC Look East such use of the phones could get pupils into trouble.

"He added that there was no need to have a camera in school and urged parents not to buy them for their children.

"'It could be very serious because there could be charges of indecency levelled against them,' he said.

"'If the pictures got on to the internet and they spread it you could imagine what could happen both nationally and internationally.

""I don't expect that to happen here, but it's a warning.'"

The head moron

I wonder if the Head Moron bans digital cameras from the school because kids could take indecent photos, copy them to a computer and send them around the world via the Internet. I wonder if the Head Moron bans laptop and desktop computers because kids could download pornography, hack into school records and corporate data bases and wreak havoc?

I wonder if the Head Moron bans paper and pens because kids could write nasty notes about other kids and pass them around class.

I guess you can tell where I stand on this issue.

Behaving responsibly

By the time a child reaches high school he/she should have some understanding of how to behave. Parents should teach children how to use camera phones (and other devices) responsibly. And, since the children are in a school -- which is supposed to educate them -- a smart administration would use camera phones as a teaching experience, rather than considering them bogeymen.

Indeed, some schools actually are incorporating camera phones into projects.

I suspect the Head Moron was at least as concerned about the prospect of getting his school or himself in trouble as he was with his pupils getting in trouble.

Parenting

I don't have children, and I sometimes shudder to think how I'd react to certain situations. I do not suffer fools gladly. For example, here's the note I would send to the Head Moron of any school that banned camera phones:

Dear Head Moron,

My child has a new camera phone and I'm thrilled that he/she will be taking it to school. Because my child is smart and has been raised to understand how to use technology responsibly, I don't expect there will be any "indecent" photos or other inappropriate behavior.

If you confiscate my child's camera phone without cause, I will haul your sorry ass into court before you have time to spell "camera phone" -- assuming you are capable of spelling it.

Comments

[vasco]

As a parent, I let my children use cameras. No, they don't use internet on their own, as most schools in the UK let them, but when they get into secondary school they probably will.
A camera phone is expensive, that's my main concern. I mean, children with mobiles is a bit ridiculous. But I don't think the camera is the most dangerous part.
I think they are a good idea, to catch rogue teachers. You know, all those criminals they let in the school, small cameras to gather evidence.

[one of the morons]

As a teacher of the school mentioned as well as a parent and governor of the afore mentioned school, I FULLY support the action taken! It is very clear that you are not a parent and it is questionable if you are an intelligent adult. If you were either/or you would know that all schools have issues regarding expensive personal items brought into school. Apart from that, there are laws (I suggest you read up on this, assuming you CAN read?) about taking pictures/photos of children under the age of 16! Yes, it is wonderful that modern technology enable us to enrich our selves, as this school is a Technology College, it has all the updated equipment needed to enrich and promote learning and teaching! However, distractions like ANY mobile phone, personal stereo or relevant gimmicks (that has its time and place) is NOT welcomed due to the fact that your child is not "smart" enough to know how and when to use it sensible! May I suggest that you get your facts right before you make a (to use your own expression) sorry ass out of yourself!