Cellphones banned at school

Text message bullying has led to mobile phones being banned at a high school.

From next year, all students at Wainuiomata High School will be asked to drop their phones in a secure box before classes start.

Failure to do so could result in the phone being confiscated.

Principal Rob Hill said a number of students had been spreading rumours and leaving inappropriate messages. Parents had also complained about the issue.

He admits some may view it as being heavy-handed.

Emergency phones will still be available for students who need to send urgent messages.

A website poll run by the Post Primary Teachers Association last year found that 58 per cent of teachers would like to see cellphones banned at the school gate.


Some students were said at the time to be sending up to 1000 messages monthly.

A UK study found that one in five children had been bullied by text or internet.

A craze of "happy slapping" has caused concern there. Children are pictured or videoed on mobile phones being assaulted and the pictures then sent to other students.

- NEWSTALK ZB, HERALD ONLINE STAFF