School rules: Student Handbook a valuable resource for parents

OK, parents. School is about to start. Have you fulfilled all your back-to-school duties? Taken your child to meet his teacher? Bought all the required school supplies? Reviewed the Student Handbook?

Yeah, Student Handbook. You know -- that paper thing that you get during registration that has Student Handbook written on it? The one you stuck on top of your fridge last August that got mixed in with the pizza coupons and carpet cleaning ad?

Yep, that Student Handbook. Seriously: Read it. It will tell you what time your kid has to be at school before receiving a tardy (and how many tardies equal a detention); what color hair your kid cannot have; and what will happen when you call little Johnny on his cell phone during his math class.

The toughest time of the year for administrators is the first couple of months. Rules have to be reinforced during August and September so that the rest of the school year will run smoothly, say local administrators. Not only are the students often shocked at the reminder of the rules, but parents are surprised that they have not completed their handbook homework as well.

"Parents are so overwhelmed with everything we send home to them at the beginning of the school year," Fara Jones, Thomas W. Kelly Elementary principal said. "They don't read the handbook or they merely skim it and forget about it."

The rule that shocks her parents the most, Jones said, is when the parents make changes to where their child goes after school and fail to let the school know.

"Our rules state that any changes in going home must be in a written note sent to the office or a phone call from the parent," Jones said. "This rule is in the handbook."

Former Jackson Middle School assistant principal Terri Fisher-Reed agrees that parents often miss important information outlined in the student handbook.

"No one has time to read it. In addition, parents usually use it more like a reference book, a dictionary, for example. They seek information only when it is needed," Fisher-Reed said. At JMS, the number one shocker to parents is detention and in-school suspension. "This is the first level of a student's education where such consequences are instilled."

Central High School bans all "nuisance items," including laser lights and personal magazines. Students there are not allowed to hold hands or embrace, according to the student handbook. The dress code at Central prohibits students from wearing bandanas, chains on their clothing and hazardous footwear such as platform shoes.

Cell phones are a hot teen item these days and can potentially cause havoc within a classroom setting. However, at both JMS and Central Junior High in Cape Girardeau, students are allowed to carry their cell phones with them.

"We do allow our students to carry their cell phones," Central Junior High assistant principal Alan Bruns said. "We understand that many parents expect their children to get in contact with them when school or practice is over. We do ask that students have their phones turned off while they are in the building."

Another CJHS rule that is clearly outlined in the student handbook is that students may not carry back-packs or large bags or wear heavy coats during the school day. "Classrooms do not have space for backpacks," Bruns said. "The bigger reason is for safety and security. Backpacks are easy places for drugs or weapons." Heavy winter coats are not allowed because they too are easy hiding places for weapons.

Obviously, school rules vary from school to school. At Century High School in Southern Illinois, cell phones are strictly not allowed, according to dean of students Leslie Bradley. Students are required to put their cell phones in their lockers before first hour begins.

"Obviously, the phones are a distraction if a student is using a phone instead of actively participating in class," Bradley said. "Students also use the cell phones to store answers to questions that may be on a test or text their friends with the questions on the test."

Other rules that Century students need to be aware of this fall are no public displays of affection and no spaghetti -strapped shirts. Bradley offers advice regarding the student handbook.

"Parents need to read their handbook and highlight information they feel does pertain to them. The handbook should be used as a reference before they contact the school with discipline questions or before they have to meet with administrators because of discipline issues," she said. "Additionally, the student handbook covers policies relating to extracurriculars."