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iPODS, HEMS MAY FLIP OR FLOP: Broward School Board Members on Tuesday Will Hear Possible Changes to the Code of Student Conduct That Include New Rules on iPods, Flip-Flops, Hems And

Posted on: Monday, 27 February 2006, 12:01 CST

By Hannah Sampson, The Miami Herald

Feb. 26--Flip-flops and iPods, weekend wardrobe essentials for many South Florida youths, could be allowed in schools next year -- with some restrictions, of course.

Those are just a couple of the recommended changes to the district's code of student conduct, which will be presented to the Broward School Board at a workshop Tuesday.

Board members will vote on changes at an upcoming meeting.

Personal technology like iPods and laptop computers could be allowed on campus -- as long as the devices are turned off and tucked away. An iPod is a portable digital media player typically used to play music, although some now have video screens. The new

rules also will dictate use

of MP3 players.

This year, there were no

specific rules about those

items, only warnings against

disruptive behavior, leaving

individual schools to determine

if iPods were banned.

"Kids are bringing them,

and so you get inconsistencies from school to school," said

Leah Kelly, the district's

executive director for student

support services and exceptional student education. "It's a recognition of how things are changing in the world."

Beach-type footwear -- commonly known as flip-flops -- could be worn by high school and middle school students, but not by kids in elementary school.

Students in middle and high schools can already wear backless shoes, although casual flip-flops like those worn to the beach were outlawed. That led to some confusion, especially for footwear policy enforcers who were educators, not cobblers.

"It was very hard to distinguish between a flip-flop, a leather open shoe, a thong sandal," said Angel Gomez, a mathematics teacher on assignment as a behavior specialist at Plantation High School who sat on the committee that made the code of conduct recommendations.

FORGET FOOTWEAR

Jeanne Jusevic, a Coconut Creek parent and fellow committee member, said the best solution was to remove any reference to forbidden footwear.

"It sort of ends the debate and frees up teachers to not have to be the fashion police," she said.

Kelly said flip-flops are also an inexpensive fashion option for families who can't dole out a hundred bucks for designer sneakers.

Cooper City High School sophomore Michael Worley, 15, said a yes vote on flip-flops would be "awesome."

"We live in South Florida and it is so hot," he said. "This is the right atmosphere for students to wear flip-flops."

Michael said iPods, currently unregulated, are also plenty popular at his school.

"Four out of every five students that have an iPod -- if not more -- bring it to school," he said. Michael does not count himself in that tally, however, because two of his have been stolen at school.

Rules governing the use of iPods and laptops would be similar to guidelines for having cellphones at school, except students could use the devices for educational reasons if teachers allow it.

Jusevic, who has a daughter in high school and a son in middle school, said she wanted the iPod rules to be more flexible so students could listen between classes or at lunch.

"It keeps them occupied," she said.

Gomez said one pro-iPod argument was that the device can be used for storing data, not just songs, a bonus for students who want to transport their research paper or PowerPoint presentation.

A DISTRACTION

But, he said from experience, an iPod also can be a huge distraction.

"They now have the video iPods," he said. "Not only are they listening to music, they're watching movies while you're trying to teach math."

Another proposed change would allow parents to write notes to excuse the absence of their high school students. Now, parents of high school kids can only call to report an absence, although elementary and middle school parents can write a note or call.

HONOR SYSTEM

Miramar High School junior Kevin Shah, a student member on the committee, said that change could prove tricky.

"It's really tough to call what's legitimate, so you have to have a standard of judging," he said. "A note can be forged anytime."

Gomez said high schools would have to accept notes on an honor system.

"You can tell an adult handwriting from a student in elementary and middle," he said.

Other recommendations, developed by more than 40 parents, teachers, administrators and students, include:

-- Eliminating any reference to hems on clothing. Currently, the rules say that shorts must be hemmed.

-- Adding pellet guns, paintball guns and flare guns to a list of items that will get a student expelled if brought to school.

-- Giving parents of high school juniors and seniors a form so they can opt out of letting military recruiters have access to students' directory information.

-----

Copyright (c) 2006, The Miami Herald

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Miami Herald

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