Cell phone use is creating new problems in schools

If a person goes to see a movie or play, there is normally a gentle reminder at the start for audience members to turn off their cell phones.

The problem is that text messaging and placing or receiving calls is a huge distraction to others.

Local police would like the same rule to apply to teens at school. Not only can cell phones be distracting to other students and teachers, but now police are coming across a growing number of incidents where the communication devices are also being used to help facilitate crimes.

From recording after-school fights to text bullying to teens sending nude photos of themselves to other teens, law enforcers say they're seeing cell phones used in ways that were never heard of several years ago.

"They're a huge hinderance to the educational process. Teachers go off about how disruptive phones are all the time," said Jordan School District spokeswoman Melinda Colton. "Based on the number of e-mails from teachers we've received the past few weeks, it's on the rise."

One Jordan School District official estimated 75 percent of students in middle and high school have cell phones. And the district fears cell phone companies will start focusing their marketing efforts on elementary school children.

For educators, most of the problems range from simple disruption to students texting answers to tests, taking pictures of tests and distributing them, to storing cheat sheets on their phones.

"(Cell phones) allow us to distribute information at a rate that has never been experienced before. Now society is going to have to adjust to this," said Cal Evans, executive director of compliance for the Jordan District.

But there have been several examples in recent weeks of cell phones being used for more than just violating school codes.

The problem of teens taking sexually explicit pictures with their cell phones and sending them to the cell phones of other teens received big media attention earlier this year in Davis County when the county attorney announced 28 teens from five junior highs and three high schools were being investigated.

Officials from several districts, however, say the problem is everywhere, not just in Davis County.

"We're seeing it more ... racy pictures going back and forth," said West Jordan Police Sgt. Greg Butler.