In this situation, make sure you have informed the parent of your and the school's policy. Inform the parent that the student will continue to receive referrals for this if she continues to use the phone during class, per classroom/school policy. If your school allows this, the parent may be able to call the office to relay a message to the student, if there is something important the parent must tell the student. Also, inform your administration and guidance counselor about what the mother has said. They may be able to offer more suggestions per your school's policy.

I would ask this parent to contact you instead of the student. If the rule is no cell phone use, then that rule needs to be followed. If there is a transportation issue or a true emergency, then the student will receive the information from you. Let the parent know that after school, she can text her daughter all she wants, just not during school.

If Mary's mother really needs to talk to her then she should go through the front desk. letting Mary use her phone in class shows the other students that they could use theirs and can just say that they are texting their parents as well.

Our students are allowed the last 5 minutes in class to use their phones, and then at break and lunch. Maybe talk to mom about this, and tell her that during instruction her child cannot have her phone out, but she can check any messages the last 5 minutes of class. This would seem like a happy compromise to me.

Let the parent know that their child is not receiving instruction effectively because they are distracted by the constant text messaging of their parents and if could negatively affect their grade. Also, I would not feel sorry for a parent who feels that texting their child during the school day is appropriate. I would still give the child a referral for each time that parent communicates with their child during the school day. Once the child gets enough referrals for phone usage, I think the parent will stop texting their child.

I would inform the administration of the issue. If nothing was changed I would have a talk with the child. If the child too did not see anything wrong with the issue then I would continue writing her up. Once the child was suspended or removed then upper administration would have be get involved and be more serious about the issue.

I would conference with the parent, student, and principal seeing that the parent does not agree with the phone policy. Explain that you're sorry, but you will have to abide by the school rules and enforce them. If the parent has any questions she can ask you or the principal during the conference.

I would ask her for a conference with the principal and yourself.

Ii would set up a bin for Mary to put her phone in in the beginning of class. Also, express to the parent that her child can text her before and after class, but not during. Also let administration know the child and parents response.

I would explain to the parent the rules and policies of the school. If the parent feels they need to speak with administration to receive some sort of accommodation for this, then they can. But, until that is done it is your responsibility as a teacher to have the students place their cellphones in the cellphone box in the front of the classroom until the period is over. The parent can bring her requests, wishes, whatever up with administration, but you are doing your job by not allowing cellphone use within the classroom. If you allow one student, you must allow them all.

You need to make sure parents and students are aware of the policy and if you need to collect the phones before class starts and give it back to the students when they are done with their work.

One thing you could do is lead an initiative that encourages your school to reconsider its policies. In today's times, cell phones are used frequently by everyone, and parents often need to communicate with their children throughout the day. For example, in the system where I work, a new policy has just been put in place. During class time, students leave their cell phones face down in the upper right hand corner of their desks. The teacher lets students know when their use is acceptable, and then the students are allowed to pick up their phones. Students are also allowed to listen to music, text, or make phone calls between classes, fully understanding that they will accept the consequences if they are late to their next class. They must only have a headphone in one ear so they can hear what is going on around them as they move from place to place, and headphones are not allowed inside the classroom when instruction is taking place. Allowing students to use their cell phones while at school would definitely curb the amount of office referrals that take place!