Narrator:
After Misses Stokes banned mobile phones and even the possession of them completly in the school some parents became furious. They decided to visit her and discuss the matter with her. Both sides had good arguments for and against the ban of the mobiles phones. It wasn`t possible for them to find a solution, so the case has to be decided by an neutral Mediator. Both sides will get the chance to argue for their opinion about this topic. At the end the mediator will decide if the mobile phones will stay banned or if the ban will get canceled.
Mediator:
Good morning Ladys and Gentleman. Today we came together to find a solution for the problem with the mobile phones in te Leicester High School. I will listen to both parties and the decide what will happen! We will start with the parents side first. Miss Stokes, Mister Adams, you start please.
Misses Stokes (headmistress)
Thank you Mediator, we banned the mobile phones, because they taking up to much stuff and teaching time.
Mister Adams (Teacher)
During classroom the children sending texts to each other, some of them left their phone on deliberately to disrupt the lesson when it rang. They even used them to bully the other pupil with nasty oder threatening messages.
Mister Adams (Teacher)
Many pupils arrive late for lessons because they are texting with friends.
Its important for us teachers to start the lessons prompt. My colleagues and even some parents support the ban of mobile phones, because they cost to much valueble teaching time.
Misses Stokes (headmisttress)
Some of them use their mobile phone to visit pornographic websites, like an eleven year old boy did 2 weeks ago.
Mister Adams (Teacher)
The mobile phone hype even stimulate the competetion who owns the latest gadget, so poor pupil with old or even no mobile phones get marginalized.
Mister Adams (Teacher)
We also worry about pupils use of "textese", some of them used these in exams.
Misses Stokes (headmistress)
Some days ago there was even an accident when an pupil showed pictures of his mother and her friend naked on the sofa. It was discussed the whole day, no one was interested in learning on this day. Thats all from our site.
Mediator:
Thank your Misses Stokes and Mister Adams. Now I want to hear the opinion of the parents. Start please.
Mother 1:
Its so bold from Misses Stokes to ban the mobile phones. The mobile phones keep our children safe. They need them to call us if there is an emergency.
Mother 2:
My daughter get bullied regulary, so she needs her mobile phone to record the bullying and to take pictures of the bullies.
Misses Stokes (Headmistress)
If there is urgency to call your children during school you can call the school office.
Mediator:
Miss Stokes, you had your time, now the parents can argue for their wish to cancel the ban.
Mother 1:
Modern phones can help kids to do research in the internet for their project. Furthermore they know the difference between "textese" and proper englisch. They know when they can use "textes" and when not.
Mother 2:
This ban is one more reason for the children to hate school. With these kind of actions you alienate them. If not with mobile phones, poorer pupil will get marginalized in other ways, so this is no arguments for or against the mobile phones.
Mediator:
Thank you, both sides got many good arguments for their issue. But Mister Adams and Misses Stokes had better arguments, so I will decide in their favour.
On the other hand the partens also had good arguments for their issue, and it`s impossible to ban the mobile phones completly. The mobile phone is an large part of todays society. So the school is allowed to confiscate the mobile phones for 1 week when the pupil use them in the lessons or make mischief with them in school. After this week the parents can get them back in school office.
You also should make clear rules regarding the mobile phone for the pupil.