Why not go one stage further and ban the wretched things altogether? Life was far more pleasant before we had to put up with the cacophony they create, the lunatic driving they foster, and the fact that their users tend to walk around in random directions blithely unaware of anything other than the little flashing instrument in their hands. Mike Bent, Oviedo, Spain

Little brother is watching you. We happily put CCTV cameras in shopping centres, towns, and football grounds. Then, when the kids image teachers with their mobile phones, suddenly we get all these squeals. It's the 21st century. Children expect to be able to contact each other on moblies, just as adults do. Obviously if a phone rings in class it should be confiscated, but the things have "off" buttons. It isn't realistic to ban them, so we need a different social attitude to being caught on camera. Malcolm Arthur, Bradford

They should be banned whilst the pupils are in school but given this crazy country someone will jump up and down screaming about "human rights" and demand a hefty compensation claim. Carole Tyrrell, London

As a former teacher I can see no need for mobile phones in school. Some pupils seem to think that talking on a mobile during lessons is necessary and not disruptive in any way, let alone bad-mannered. Hours of teacher time is wasted when phones are stolen from pupils. No one would deny a pupil the use of a phone in an emergency; after all we do care about the wellbeing of the students that we teach. Jeannie Rowe, Ealing

Mobile phones are not needed by 99 per cent of the "adults" who use them, never mind a bunch of brain-dead kids. Of course they should be banned from schools along with politically correct "child-centred" educational methods which have led to the mayhem that masquerades as an education these days. Derek Sinclair, Dundee

My daughter's school has a clear, fair and enforceable policy on mobiles. None allowed in school and confiscated if found. Parents agree to this as they do to the uniform policy. This avoids all of the issues discussed in the article as well as ensuring the safety of pupils who can't then be mugged in the streets for their phone. There's no logical argument for having it any other way. Carey Gunn, London

I am at a total loss to understand why any pupil actually needs a mobile phone in school. A mobile phone is not a necessity for life, a good education is. Blocking technology is not enough; mobiles should be switched off on school premises, just as they are supposed to be on aircraft, and misuse should justify automatic confiscation until the end of the day. And we wonder why children today show no respect... Brian Naylor, Farnham

A mobile phone has its advantages and usefulness and its use cannot be banned. However, there is no reason why students cannot be asked to switch off their phones during school hours. They could be allowed to switch them on again at going home time. At work, employees are expected to switch off their phones during meetings so why can't children be prepared for life after school. Vinay Mehra, Purley

Pupils have no need for mobile phones in school. I refuse to believe that there exists a school without a telephone. I never needed one and I was constantly involved in extra-curricular activities; if there was a problem then I would either use the phone box on site, or ask to use a department phone. Failing that, there was a phone box just off site. I bought my first phone when I was 17 as I had started driving I didn't like it but I felt that it then became a necessity. As for this problem of mobile bullying, I do not believe there is one. Children have always bullied other children and teachers. Surely a teacher does not enter the profession thinking that they are somehow safe from taunting and practical jokes? The use of mobiles to bully is simply the world we live in. People should grow up and stop complaining about petty issues - I detest bullying but if a teacher feels they cannot take taunts from children then they really should not be in the job. T French, Haytor

When a child enter school, they are under the protection of the teachers and easily contactable through the school administration office should any problem occur. Mobile phones should be handed in during registration and retrieved at the end of the day. Why is there even any debate about this? Keith Downer, London

I think it's terrible that some children have found new ways to bully teachers by the use of cell phones. Phones should be banned from the schools do to their disruptive nature to begin with, but for bullying tactics most definitely! In most of the US, cell phones are not allowed to be seen or heard at all. If a teacher sees one or hears one, the teacher confiscates it and the student can pick it up the next day in the principals office. You can't stop children from taking cell phones to school, but you can put severe restrictions on them. If the student makes a habit of it, then they are suspended. Robin Castellanos, San Antonio, TX, USA

Of course children should be banned from having mobile phones in school. There is something distinctly pathetic in children being so unable to cope with life that they must have 24-hour access to their friends for support. It's beyond me why they need mobiles at all but, given that parents seem too weak to say "no" to their brats, all children should be required to surrender their mobiles to a member of staff on arrival at the school gate, and given them back when they leave the premises at the end of the day. Children should be subject to random and unannounced searches and any mobiles found should be publicly smashed using a large mallet displayed prominently for the purpose. Bob Finbow, Haverhill

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