BY MATT SCHOOLEY

While more students own electronic devices that make their lives easier, school officials are often forced to deal with the  increasing number of devices on school grounds.

Many of the area schools have different ways of dealing with the use of iPods and cell phones in schools.

Hopkinton High School Principal Steve Chamberlin worries more about the atmosphere iPods and cell phones create in a school.

“It’s a case where the students would prefer the access, but we really would like to try and control it. The iPods can create isolation, which is a big concern for me. If you have those ear buds in from the moment you wake up, that’s a problem,” he said.

Almost all students have cell phones and he understands why, but the devices have to be shut off in school.

“We understand that cases come up when they need to use the phone, so they can check messages on their cell phones in the office,” he said.

At Bow Memorial School, Principal Kirk Spofford said he doesn’t see a problem with electronic devices at the school.

“We don’t allow iPods or cell phones out while students are in the building. If they are in a backpack or a locker that is OK with us, Spofford said.

He believes more and more students have the devices.

“We haven’t had a longstanding problem at our school, but at the same time we aren’t naive. We know our students have these devices at school,” he said.

If students are caught using the devices at school, the first offense would mean leaving them in the office until the end of the day and a parent is called.

“It has been an effective way of dealing with it,” he said. “The kids have been very good about not pushing it, and we only have about seven or eight cases of them being out a year.”

At the new Bedford High School, Principal George Edwards said the policy relies on the students’ choice of how they use the devices.

“Our school policy is that it is not permitted to operate or have an electronic device that causes a disruption. Cell phones are allowed in designated areas at appropriate times,” said Edwards.

He said the cafeteria and outdoor courtyards are designated areas.

“As long as the students are not being disruptive and are using the iPods appropriately, they can be used at the discretion of the teacher in the classroom.”

At Goffstown’s Mountain View Middle School, students are allowed to have the devices on the grounds, but they can’t  be taken out during the school day.

“We understand that there are some cases when those are needed for communication,” said Principal Jim Hunt, who allows students to use cell phones on the bus ride home. “We live in a remote area and a lot of our students are bused to and from school. They should have that access and the parents should have access to them while they are on their way home.”

Another issue the use of the devices in school raises is theft.

“This year, there has been more of a problem with the security of the devices. They are valuable and we’ve had a couple of them get stolen. We encourage students to use locks on their lockers, but many of them don’t want to do that and don’t have the time,” said Chamberlin.

Hunt echoed those concerns.

“There are some dishonest kids out there, and it can be tempting for them to steal some of these expensive devices. That’s another reason that we don’t want students to bring these things to school,” he said. “When that happens, we are forced to move away from educating and into investigating.”

While there are negative aspects of having the devices, there are also positives. iPods, for example, can be used during study halls to help students concentrate on reading and homework.

“Students today utilize iPods in appropriate ways,” said Edwards. “I think it is something that is a learning experience for them to see what things work so when they head down the road to college and further, they will know if this is something that can help them.”

Hunt said school personnel must be open for the changes in society.

“As school administrators, we really have to adapt to changing technology quite regularly. The kids are lightyears ahead of us in many ways,” he said. “The more compact these devices get, the harder it is to regulate.”