Board OK’s Flip-Flops, but iPods Are Out

By Hannah Sampson, The Miami Herald

Mar. 8–Students in Broward public schools — a district that produces its own podcast and prides itself on its technology programs — cannot bring iPods and laptops to campus, the School Board decided unanimously Tuesday.

A committee that proposes changes to the Code of Student Conduct had recommended that personal technology be treated like cellphones: allowed on campus, but turned off and kept out of sight.

But Broward Schools Superintendent Frank Till said principals wanted gadgets to be banned altogether.

"Principals have said they’re spending an inordinate amount of time playing device police," he said.

Board members left in a provision that would allow students to have an iPod or laptop if they were directed by a teacher to use one at school. But some worried that such a policy might divide students into those who could afford the technology and those who had to do without.

‘I would be very offended if a teacher told students, ‘Whoever has an iPod, bring it in for a project. The rest of you are out of luck,’ " said board member Carole Andrews.

Board member Bob Parks said the district has invested so much in technology that students already have access to computers at school.

Several board members said they hoped to change the policy in the future as technology and education become even more intertwined.

"Let’s just do it right," said board member Marty Rubinstein.

Till said that items like iPods and laptops would be confiscated if students bring them to school under the new code.

Fuzzy slippers and unhemmed clothes met the same fate as personal tech gadgets Tuesday, though flip-flops made the cut for high school students.

Rules got a little more strict for middle school students, who previously were allowed to wear backless shoes. No more. Elementary school kids have always been prohibited from wearing backless shoes.

The code of conduct committee had proposed allowing flip-flops for middle school kids also, in part because they are an inexpensive option. Most board members didn’t buy it.

"You can go to Payless, you can get $5 tennis shoes," Andrews said. "You don’t have to wear flip-flops."

Rubinstein wore a pair of backless, toeless slip-on shoes to Tuesday’s meeting in protest, but in the end only Andrews objected to the footwear changes. Rubinstein called it a "partial victory" that bedroom slippers did not get the OK.

"I understand we are not the fashion police," Rubinstein said. "But if we have reasonable standards, we don’t need to be fashion police."

"Isn’t it all about setting expectations?" asked board member Bob Parks.

Board member Beverly Gallagher said she wanted to take another look at the often-controversial uniform policy, which allows high school students to vote on whether or not they want uniforms at their schools.

Currently, no Broward public high school has a uniform.

—–

Copyright (c) 2006, The Miami Herald

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.