Rock 'n' Ring High School

Rock 'n' Ring High School

As far back as 1988, the use of mobile phones has been banned in New York public schools, and with excellent reason. So why did Schools Chancellor Joel Klein announce last week that he was considering lifting the ban?

Klein is apparently reacting to pressure from parents, who insist their children need cellphones in schools in the "event of an emergency."

Yeah, we can imagine some of the dire emergencies which would require that their kids keep a cellphone with them and turned on at all times-"Be sure and pick up some bread on the way home," "Do you know where your sister is?" and "Where the hell's the remote?" And in between those emergencies, the little monsters are going to be yakking it up with some other genius in the next classroom, or text messaging test answers to their friends.

We realize the ban was never strictly enforced, but that Klein is even considering lifting the ban entirely indicates that he's simply thrown up his hands, completely giving up on the notion of even trying to educate New York's school kids.