Students get message: Leave phones at home.. 1/25/2007

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Thorny

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: Thorny
It's not illegal, and if you need to call 911 there is a phone in every classroom. Cell phones don't belong in schools.

No, actually, there is not a phone in the vast majority of classrooms, at least around where I live. Parents trusting school administration is another reason that they demand their students have cell phones. I can't remember what the event was, but there was something happening at the local school, and administration wouldn't let any students call home, and a lot of them wanted to (can't remember the reason, but I remember thinking it a valid one). When a group of parents found out, they informed the school board that their kids would be carrying cell phones. After the school said "carry cell phones, but don't let them interrupt class," many more students said that they started carrying cell phones... and teachers said that they saw the number of interruptions go down.

<shrug> I don't see anything wrong w/ cell phones, or many other electronic devices that are "prohibited" in many schools.

All of the schools in our district have a phone in every classroom. Even if there weren't there is a phone in the office that a student could use in emergency. If there is an emergency at home the parents can call the office to contact thier child. The kids do not NEED a phone at school for an emergency anymore than they need a gun for self protection.. I challenge anyone to come up with an educational benefit to having cell phones in school, just one.

In a physics class, I can show students how a faraday cage will prevent signals from getting through to the cell phone.

I win.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: ryan256
This is what a Kid's Cell Phone is for. Can only call 911, mom & dad, and anyone else the parents think their child needs to be able to get in touch with.

:thumbsup:

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
How does this send the message to leave them at home? More like, put them on vibrate.

Ohhhh yeah baby. I had mine of vibrate all along.

 

[wetcat007]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: d33pt

Originally posted by: Thorny
I thought schools were just using cell phone jammers now, which I thought was a good idea. I would think that would be easier and more efficient.

it's illegal to use jammers because they would block legitimate 911 emergency calls too.

Uhh, my HS has a jammer.

Anyways, I had a phone in high school.

I always turned it OFF during school. You turn it on maybe at lunchtime or stuff because we could go out to eat and that requires communication with friends.

Honestly, how many friends did you have that were in college that you would CALL in HS during SCHOOL HOURS? Does it make sense? It only made sense if I had friends who went to the CC right across the street, but hell, my friends went to UCLA, Cal, etc., and I don't see why I would call them during HS hours.

That's why I turned my phone OFF. I don't get why people turned their phones on. Are you expecting a call during 3rd period english from your friend who's in 3rd period calculus? I mean it's utterly RETARDED.

Your friends are all in HS, and they are all in class. Turn your fvcking phone off. If your parents need to call, let them leave a voice mail.

If you REALLY need your phone on, leave it on silent at least.

I'm in college and I DON'T turn my phone off. That's because people text nowadays because they usually assume others are in class. Also it's because I'm in charge of a student group that tables outside in our plaza and usually peopel need to call/text/leave message about finding people to take over shifts and what not. However, this is all done with my phone on VIBRATE. It's not irritating at all as I catch my phone within the first 1 or 2 vibrates so it doesn't buzz anymore. Moreover, loose pants allow you not to buzz and cause the whole desk to vibrate or whatever. I suspect most people don'tknow my phone is going off if it does.

If they have an actual jammer they're using in the US they could get in some trouble...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_phone_jammer
USA - Illegal to operate, manufacture, import, offer for sale, including advertising (Communications Act of 1934)[2] with fines of up to $11,000 and imprisonment of up to a year.

 

[Thorny]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: Thorny

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: Thorny
It's not illegal, and if you need to call 911 there is a phone in every classroom. Cell phones don't belong in schools.

No, actually, there is not a phone in the vast majority of classrooms, at least around where I live. Parents trusting school administration is another reason that they demand their students have cell phones. I can't remember what the event was, but there was something happening at the local school, and administration wouldn't let any students call home, and a lot of them wanted to (can't remember the reason, but I remember thinking it a valid one). When a group of parents found out, they informed the school board that their kids would be carrying cell phones. After the school said "carry cell phones, but don't let them interrupt class," many more students said that they started carrying cell phones... and teachers said that they saw the number of interruptions go down.

<shrug> I don't see anything wrong w/ cell phones, or many other electronic devices that are "prohibited" in many schools.

All of the schools in our district have a phone in every classroom. Even if there weren't there is a phone in the office that a student could use in emergency. If there is an emergency at home the parents can call the office to contact thier child. The kids do not NEED a phone at school for an emergency anymore than they need a gun for self protection.. I challenge anyone to come up with an educational benefit to having cell phones in school, just one.

In a physics class, I can show students how a faraday cage will prevent signals from getting through to the cell phone.

I win.

That only takes one phone, in one class, one time. I bet the phone wouldn't be provided by a student either, so you lose.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: Thorny

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: Thorny
It's not illegal, and if you need to call 911 there is a phone in every classroom. Cell phones don't belong in schools.

No, actually, there is not a phone in the vast majority of classrooms, at least around where I live. Parents trusting school administration is another reason that they demand their students have cell phones. I can't remember what the event was, but there was something happening at the local school, and administration wouldn't let any students call home, and a lot of them wanted to (can't remember the reason, but I remember thinking it a valid one). When a group of parents found out, they informed the school board that their kids would be carrying cell phones. After the school said "carry cell phones, but don't let them interrupt class," many more students said that they started carrying cell phones... and teachers said that they saw the number of interruptions go down.

<shrug> I don't see anything wrong w/ cell phones, or many other electronic devices that are "prohibited" in many schools.

All of the schools in our district have a phone in every classroom. Even if there weren't there is a phone in the office that a student could use in emergency. If there is an emergency at home the parents can call the office to contact thier child. The kids do not NEED a phone at school for an emergency anymore than they need a gun for self protection.. I challenge anyone to come up with an educational benefit to having cell phones in school, just one.

What the hell is your issue with students having cell phones?

 

[Journer]

fvck those people...a teacher in HS tried to take my phone from me and i wouldnt fork it over...she gave me detention but i wouldnt go. nothing happened after that. i agree its a big distraction but no one is taking my property unless they want their ass beat

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
How does this send the message to leave them at home? More like, put them on vibrate.

Which accomplishes the objective: Less distractions in a learning environment.
So if they choose to enable the vibrate feature, then they must be getting the message.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: Pacemaker

Originally posted by: slsmnaz

Originally posted by: slag

Originally posted by: cyclistca
Good, they should be banned from schools. You should be in school to learn not to text message your buddies. My generation survived without cell phones. I'm sure this one can.

dumb logic.

My great grandparents lived without airplanes or microwaves, yet each one of these inventions makes life easier.

Same with a cell phone.

Please explain how a cell phone is used to make Shakespeare easier.

After you're done with that explain how having and airplane and a microwave in class everday helps the learning process at all.

IMO they would both be a distraction and so are cell phones.

Sorry dude, you just lost all credibility in your arguments right there.
Do you wanna know why?

CUZ KIDS ARENT BRINGING AIRPLANES AND MICROWAVE OVENS INTO CLASS!

sorry for the screaming

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: wetcat007

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: d33pt

Originally posted by: Thorny
I thought schools were just using cell phone jammers now, which I thought was a good idea. I would think that would be easier and more efficient.

it's illegal to use jammers because they would block legitimate 911 emergency calls too.

Uhh, my HS has a jammer.
Anyways, I had a phone in high school.
I always turned it OFF during school. You turn it on maybe at lunchtime or stuff because we could go out to eat and that requires communication with friends.
Honestly, how many friends did you have that were in college that you would CALL in HS during SCHOOL HOURS? Does it make sense? It only made sense if I had friends who went to the CC right across the street, but hell, my friends went to UCLA, Cal, etc., and I don't see why I would call them during HS hours.
That's why I turned my phone OFF. I don't get why people turned their phones on. Are you expecting a call during 3rd period english from your friend who's in 3rd period calculus? I mean it's utterly RETARDED.
Your friends are all in HS, and they are all in class. Turn your fvcking phone off. If your parents need to call, let them leave a voice mail.
If you REALLY need your phone on, leave it on silent at least.
I'm in college and I DON'T turn my phone off. That's because people text nowadays because they usually assume others are in class. Also it's because I'm in charge of a student group that tables outside in our plaza and usually peopel need to call/text/leave message about finding people to take over shifts and what not. However, this is all done with my phone on VIBRATE. It's not irritating at all as I catch my phone within the first 1 or 2 vibrates so it doesn't buzz anymore. Moreover, loose pants allow you not to buzz and cause the whole desk to vibrate or whatever. I suspect most people don'tknow my phone is going off if it does.

If they have an actual jammer they're using in the US they could get in some trouble...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_phone_jammer
USA - Illegal to operate, manufacture, import, offer for sale, including advertising (Communications Act of 1934)[2] with fines of up to $11,000 and imprisonment of up to a year.

There is a difference between a jammer that radiates noise and one that just blocks RF.
The FCC doesnt like anybody radiating anything with following a butt-load of rules and maybe aquiring a licence.
But simply blocking RF is not against the law in most places.

I'm not sure which one was being discussed though.

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
There is a difference between a jammer that radiates noise and one that just blocks RF.
The FCC doesnt like anybody radiating anything with following a butt-load of rules and maybe aquiring a licence.
But simply blocking RF is not against the law in most places.

I'm not sure which one was being discussed though.

Explain to me how you plan on "blocking RF" besides overpowering the signal.

Build a faraday cage around the school?

 

[Thorny]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: Thorny

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: Thorny
It's not illegal, and if you need to call 911 there is a phone in every classroom. Cell phones don't belong in schools.

No, actually, there is not a phone in the vast majority of classrooms, at least around where I live. Parents trusting school administration is another reason that they demand their students have cell phones. I can't remember what the event was, but there was something happening at the local school, and administration wouldn't let any students call home, and a lot of them wanted to (can't remember the reason, but I remember thinking it a valid one). When a group of parents found out, they informed the school board that their kids would be carrying cell phones. After the school said "carry cell phones, but don't let them interrupt class," many more students said that they started carrying cell phones... and teachers said that they saw the number of interruptions go down.

<shrug> I don't see anything wrong w/ cell phones, or many other electronic devices that are "prohibited" in many schools.

All of the schools in our district have a phone in every classroom. Even if there weren't there is a phone in the office that a student could use in emergency. If there is an emergency at home the parents can call the office to contact thier child. The kids do not NEED a phone at school for an emergency anymore than they need a gun for self protection.. I challenge anyone to come up with an educational benefit to having cell phones in school, just one.

What the hell is your issue with students having cell phones?

I don't have a problem with them having them outside the classroom. But they don't need to be texting back in forth in class, checking thier incoming calls ect. In the classroom I see phones as distraction that can be avoided. Even when I was in college, students didn't have the self control to put down thier phone in class, and it is distracting to the people around them, I'm sure high school kids are worse.

I'm not even arguing the cheating aspect either. That reason alone has caused many school districts to ban cell phones.

 

[Juno]

well, it cannot stop the rising of cell phones. at my school, almost everyone has a cell phone. last week, a teacher was in middle of his lecture and somehow his phone ringed. he paused the lecture and picked up the phone. it was an emergency call so he had to leave the room and returned when he finished his call.

 

[BoomerD]

In the community college I attend, 3 out of 5 of my classes, the instructor will give you a 0 for the day if your cell phone rings (audibly) during class. Emergency use can be permitted, but has to be explained BEFORE class starts. (wife expecting, sick kids, etc.) Ringing phones can be a major distraction for the rest of the class. SOME people have enough problems keeping their minds on what's being taught, and the ringing of a phone just makes things more difficult for them. For me, a cell phone is just a PITA electronic leash, so having to turn it off is a pleasure...

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: Colt45

Originally posted by: shortylickens
There is a difference between a jammer that radiates noise and one that just blocks RF.
The FCC doesnt like anybody radiating anything with following a butt-load of rules and maybe aquiring a licence.
But simply blocking RF is not against the law in most places.
I'm not sure which one was being discussed though.

Explain to me how you plan on "blocking RF" besides overpowering the signal.
Build a faraday cage around the school?

See here we have a problem of mutual ignorance. I have no idea what a faraday cage is, and you obviously dont know that one electromagnetic wave can't "block" another.

Some of movie theaters around the world have so-called "radio blocking sheets" placed in or on the walls.
They're really just expensive tinfoil with a foam padding. They can block or absorb most frequencies (except, of course the LF and VLF stuff we used in the Navy).

I have heard of some private schools doing this as well. Even with windows its amazing how much signal you can kill using those sheets.
Have not heard of any public schools using them yet, they're fairly expensive. I supose more than one parent has suggested them somewhere in America.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: Thorny
I don't have a problem with them having them outside the classroom. But they don't need to be texting back in forth in class, checking thier incoming calls ect. In the classroom I see phones as distraction that can be avoided. Even when I was in college, students didn't have the self control to put down thier phone in class, and it is distracting to the people around them, I'm sure high school kids are worse.

I'm not even arguing the cheating aspect either. That reason alone has caused many school districts to ban cell phones.

I was in high school not long ago. The school had fairly relaxed cell phone rules, compared to most. I can think of very few situations in which a cell phone interrupted class (maybe 2-3 times in as many years). I didn't see students using them for text messages, either (in class, I saw it all the time between classes). I would far more often see them passing around TI calculators, using them to message back and forth.

 

[Thorny]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: Thorny
I don't have a problem with them having them outside the classroom. But they don't need to be texting back in forth in class, checking thier incoming calls ect. In the classroom I see phones as distraction that can be avoided. Even when I was in college, students didn't have the self control to put down thier phone in class, and it is distracting to the people around them, I'm sure high school kids are worse.

I'm not even arguing the cheating aspect either. That reason alone has caused many school districts to ban cell phones.

I was in high school not long ago. The school had fairly relaxed cell phone rules, compared to most. I can think of very few situations in which a cell phone interrupted class (maybe 2-3 times in as many years). I didn't see students using them for text messages, either (in class, I saw it all the time between classes). I would far more often see them passing around TI calculators, using them to message back and forth.

I'm probably on the more strict end of the spectrum I guess. I'm also more inclined to take the educators side since my wife is a teacher. I really don't have a big issue with kids having cell phones, but I support the school 100% if they feel the need to restrict their use. FWIW I think that the teachers should follow the same rules as the students and turn off thier phones during class. I had a professor in college that would always answer his phone in class and it really ticked me off.

 

[Triumph]

There is no reason for a child to have a cell phone in the classroom. Emergency my ass, we survived for ten thousand years without them. And whiney parents need to stop being so overprotective of their children.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: Thorny

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: Thorny
I don't have a problem with them having them outside the classroom. But they don't need to be texting back in forth in class, checking thier incoming calls ect. In the classroom I see phones as distraction that can be avoided. Even when I was in college, students didn't have the self control to put down thier phone in class, and it is distracting to the people around them, I'm sure high school kids are worse.

I'm not even arguing the cheating aspect either. That reason alone has caused many school districts to ban cell phones.

I was in high school not long ago. The school had fairly relaxed cell phone rules, compared to most. I can think of very few situations in which a cell phone interrupted class (maybe 2-3 times in as many years). I didn't see students using them for text messages, either (in class, I saw it all the time between classes). I would far more often see them passing around TI calculators, using them to message back and forth.

I'm probably on the more strict end of the spectrum I guess. I'm also more inclined to take the educators side since my wife is a teacher. I really don't have a big issue with kids having cell phones, but I support the school 100% if they feel the need to restrict their use. FWIW I think that the teachers should follow the same rules as the students and turn off thier phones during class. I had a professor in college that would always answer his phone in class and it really ticked me off.

Few educators in the high school I attended were against students having cell phones, because the majority of the students had them anyway, and they were respectful of when they used them.

Oh, and my mom is a teacher, I worked as a net admin for a public school district for a few years, and I've also been a substitute teacher. Maybe it's just the area I live in -- but it's not the educators that have a problem with the cell phones around here, it's only administration, and they've admitted to me and others that their beef with cell phones comes from higher up.

There are a couple of teachers in that district that were MUCH more "abusive" of using their cell phone during class than any student I ever saw. Those teachers need punished... unfortunately, those same teachers are the ones that are just a few years away from retirement and the school administrators don't want to go through the legal red tape to do anything to them.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: Triumph
Emergency my ass, we survived for ten thousand years without them.

And? What's your point? We survived for ten thousand years without computers too... should we remove them? Survivability without an object is irrelevant.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: Triumph
Emergency my ass, we survived for ten thousand years without them.

And? What's your point? We survived for ten thousand years without computers too... should we remove them? Survivability without an object is irrelevant.

It isn't irrelevant when it's the only reason people can come up with to justify allowing cell phones in classrooms and movie theaters and other places where they are inappropriate to use.

 

[Thorny]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: Thorny

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: Thorny
I don't have a problem with them having them outside the classroom. But they don't need to be texting back in forth in class, checking thier incoming calls ect. In the classroom I see phones as distraction that can be avoided. Even when I was in college, students didn't have the self control to put down thier phone in class, and it is distracting to the people around them, I'm sure high school kids are worse.

I'm not even arguing the cheating aspect either. That reason alone has caused many school districts to ban cell phones.

I was in high school not long ago. The school had fairly relaxed cell phone rules, compared to most. I can think of very few situations in which a cell phone interrupted class (maybe 2-3 times in as many years). I didn't see students using them for text messages, either (in class, I saw it all the time between classes). I would far more often see them passing around TI calculators, using them to message back and forth.

I'm probably on the more strict end of the spectrum I guess. I'm also more inclined to take the educators side since my wife is a teacher. I really don't have a big issue with kids having cell phones, but I support the school 100% if they feel the need to restrict their use. FWIW I think that the teachers should follow the same rules as the students and turn off thier phones during class. I had a professor in college that would always answer his phone in class and it really ticked me off.

Few educators in the high school I attended were against students having cell phones, because the majority of the students had them anyway, and they were respectful of when they used them.

Oh, and my mom is a teacher, I worked as a net admin for a public school district for a few years, and I've also been a substitute teacher. Maybe it's just the area I live in -- but it's not the educators that have a problem with the cell phones around here, it's only administration, and they've admitted to me and others that their beef with cell phones comes from higher up.

There are a couple of teachers in that district that were MUCH more "abusive" of using their cell phone during class than any student I ever saw. Those teachers need punished... unfortunately, those same teachers are the ones that are just a few years away from retirement and the school administrators don't want to go through the legal red tape to do anything to them.

I'm all for punishing teachers that would refuse to follow policy. I hold teachers to a higher standard than most others since they require the respect of their students to be effective. Teachers are useless if they don't care enough about their job to set a good example.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: d33pt

Originally posted by: Thorny
I thought schools were just using cell phone jammers now, which I thought was a good idea. I would think that would be easier and more efficient.

it's illegal to use jammers because they would block legitimate 911 emergency calls too.

Uhh, my HS has a jammer.

Anyways, I had a phone in high school.

I always turned it OFF during school. You turn it on maybe at lunchtime or stuff because we could go out to eat and that requires communication with friends.

Honestly, how many friends did you have that were in college that you would CALL in HS during SCHOOL HOURS? Does it make sense? It only made sense if I had friends who went to the CC right across the street, but hell, my friends went to UCLA, Cal, etc., and I don't see why I would call them during HS hours.

That's why I turned my phone OFF. I don't get why people turned their phones on. Are you expecting a call during 3rd period english from your friend who's in 3rd period calculus? I mean it's utterly RETARDED.

Your friends are all in HS, and they are all in class. Turn your fvcking phone off. If your parents need to call, let them leave a voice mail.

If you REALLY need your phone on, leave it on silent at least.

I'm in college and I DON'T turn my phone off. That's because people text nowadays because they usually assume others are in class. Also it's because I'm in charge of a student group that tables outside in our plaza and usually peopel need to call/text/leave message about finding people to take over shifts and what not. However, this is all done with my phone on VIBRATE. It's not irritating at all as I catch my phone within the first 1 or 2 vibrates so it doesn't buzz anymore. Moreover, loose pants allow you not to buzz and cause the whole desk to vibrate or whatever. I suspect most people don'tknow my phone is going off if it does.

Cell phone jammers are illegal in the US.

However it is not illegal to block cell phone transmissions. There is a product that is basically plywood with a sheet of material in the middle that blocks signals. Of course that's the sort of thing you need to implement when the building is being constructed.

 

[Thorny]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: d33pt

Originally posted by: Thorny
I thought schools were just using cell phone jammers now, which I thought was a good idea. I would think that would be easier and more efficient.

it's illegal to use jammers because they would block legitimate 911 emergency calls too.

Uhh, my HS has a jammer.

Anyways, I had a phone in high school.

I always turned it OFF during school. You turn it on maybe at lunchtime or stuff because we could go out to eat and that requires communication with friends.

Honestly, how many friends did you have that were in college that you would CALL in HS during SCHOOL HOURS? Does it make sense? It only made sense if I had friends who went to the CC right across the street, but hell, my friends went to UCLA, Cal, etc., and I don't see why I would call them during HS hours.

That's why I turned my phone OFF. I don't get why people turned their phones on. Are you expecting a call during 3rd period english from your friend who's in 3rd period calculus? I mean it's utterly RETARDED.

Your friends are all in HS, and they are all in class. Turn your fvcking phone off. If your parents need to call, let them leave a voice mail.

If you REALLY need your phone on, leave it on silent at least.

I'm in college and I DON'T turn my phone off. That's because people text nowadays because they usually assume others are in class. Also it's because I'm in charge of a student group that tables outside in our plaza and usually peopel need to call/text/leave message about finding people to take over shifts and what not. However, this is all done with my phone on VIBRATE. It's not irritating at all as I catch my phone within the first 1 or 2 vibrates so it doesn't buzz anymore. Moreover, loose pants allow you not to buzz and cause the whole desk to vibrate or whatever. I suspect most people don'tknow my phone is going off if it does.

Cell phone jammers are illegal in the US.

However it is not illegal to block cell phone transmissions. There is a product that is basically plywood with a sheet of material in the middle that blocks signals. Of course that's the sort of thing you need to implement when the building is being constructed.

I believe they actually have a special kind of paint that blocks the signal now too. Has copper shavings mixed in and is supposed to be very effective. Not sure if its for sale yet though.

 

[josh0099]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: d33pt

Originally posted by: Thorny
I thought schools were just using cell phone jammers now, which I thought was a good idea. I would think that would be easier and more efficient.

it's illegal to use jammers because they would block legitimate 911 emergency calls too.

Uhh, my HS has a jammer.

Anyways, I had a phone in high school.

I always turned it OFF during school. You turn it on maybe at lunchtime or stuff because we could go out to eat and that requires communication with friends.

Honestly, how many friends did you have that were in college that you would CALL in HS during SCHOOL HOURS? Does it make sense? It only made sense if I had friends who went to the CC right across the street, but hell, my friends went to UCLA, Cal, etc., and I don't see why I would call them during HS hours.

That's why I turned my phone OFF. I don't get why people turned their phones on. Are you expecting a call during 3rd period english from your friend who's in 3rd period calculus? I mean it's utterly RETARDED.

Your friends are all in HS, and they are all in class. Turn your fvcking phone off. If your parents need to call, let them leave a voice mail.

If you REALLY need your phone on, leave it on silent at least.

I'm in college and I DON'T turn my phone off. That's because people text nowadays because they usually assume others are in class. Also it's because I'm in charge of a student group that tables outside in our plaza and usually peopel need to call/text/leave message about finding people to take over shifts and what not. However, this is all done with my phone on VIBRATE. It's not irritating at all as I catch my phone within the first 1 or 2 vibrates so it doesn't buzz anymore. Moreover, loose pants allow you not to buzz and cause the whole desk to vibrate or whatever. I suspect most people don'tknow my phone is going off if it does.

Cell phone jammers are illegal in the US.

However it is not illegal to block cell phone transmissions. There is a product that is basically plywood with a sheet of material in the middle that blocks signals. Of course that's the sort of thing you need to implement when the building is being constructed.

I personally think that any blockage or jamming should be illegal...Seems like a lawsuit ready to happen if businesses or schools start blocking cell phone signals...I know they may interrupt people's life every once in awhile, but they are very handy in sticky situations. Columbine comes to mind....If I was a student stuck in the school and had a cell phone I could call my parents and tell them I was OK and they wouldn't have to worry until I got to a pay phone or saw me on the news or something...Now I know thats a extreme situation, but stuff does happen.