X-post: Texting fuels Arkansas school panic

[flashl]

Rumors spread by cell phone text-messaging flew through a school after a student's suicide, rumors that other kids planned to kill themselves, that students planned to bring weapons to school, that there was going to be "a shoot 'em up." Panicked parents rushed to take their children home.

But police and officials at Augusta High School say the panic turned out to be only a way for students to avoid taking semester-ending exams."Somebody took advantage of a tragedy that happened in Augusta, a tragedy of a young man taking his life," Superintendent Richard Blevins said.

"Somebody exploited that and I guess that made me madder than anything else. Somebody was so insensitive to use that for their own gain."

An existing ban on cell phones at the school will be enforced when the winter break is over.

AP - Read Full Text

[BOSSHOG]

1. Why do students need cell phones in school?

or at least why do they need to use them during school hours except for cases of emergency?

[flashl]

2. IMHO, Parents ...

1) Are reacting to fear from overwhelming number of stories about predators everywhere
2) Reacting to fear about unsafe schools
3) Subcumbing to their teen pleas for a phone
4) Responding to advertising about cheap 'family plans'