T.I.S.D. Explains "Sexting" Policies

July 21, 2009 - 10:29pm

TYLER — Officials with the Tyler Independent School District say like the rest of the country, they have seen more "sexting" in recent years. Some areas of the state are having a tough time dealing with the issue. Recently, Houston school officials announced tougher policies on kids who send sexually explicit text messages on their cell phones. Officials say the problem does not seem to be out of control in Tyler.

"We are probably in the average as far as experiencing a rising trend with 'sexting'," said Jeff Collum, Executive Director of Student Services with the T.I.S.D.

Mr. Collum is currently making regular revisions to the student code of conduct, but says existing guidelines regarding 'sexting'" have been successful and will not change.

"The way these policies are written is to try and eliminate these types of things from going on in the schools."

"Sexting" is covered by the student code of conduct which says students are not allowed to posses pornographic material and works with a cell phone policy started last year which states that students can have a cell phone with them for emergencies, but it must be powered off. Students found "sexting" could face tough consequences according to Mr. Collum.

"The maximum punishment for any student for a major violation of the code would be expulsion from school," he said.

If the incident is serious enough the student could face charges. It's a violation of state and federal law to posses and distribute child pornography.

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How will you find out if they are sexting. If kids are texting and talking about having sex, its not likely that they will let the teacher read their phones. Forget sexting....they shouldnt be texting period. What has this country come to?

Sallie Mae

7 months ago

Trying to eliminate "sexting" at the school is like treating a symptom! We weren't even aloud a cell phone in school period!!! So even the excuse of a student having one for an emeregency doesn't have much credibility for me. That's what they have office assitants for, and principles and counselors. Sexting does play a huge role in exploiting and objectifying women-also can be a from of sexual assault!If you want to cure the problem you have to go for the disease. Exclude cell phones all together!

Jeremy

9 months ago

If students parents beleive they are old enough and mature enough to have a cell phone, and the district permits the phones on campus, if they are using their phones while not in class and it isn't disrupting anyones educational function, it isn't anyones business what that student has on their phone. It is an infringement of privacy rights on behalf of the cell account holder, and the user of the cell phone. The school districts need to abide by privacy laws and read between the lines about what they are doing to enforce privacy violations on people, and look at themselves in the mirror and stop trying to control people and learn how to control themselves and how to be controlled. I went to Tyler ISD in High School and I know about the bogus cell phone policies and privacy infringement. What they are doing is just as illegal as the so called "sexting."