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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial>From: "Chana Luntz" <Chana@kolsassoon.org.uk><BR>>>The
Benei Banim has a series of teshuvos (Shut Bnei Banim Chelek Sheni<BR>siman 47,
48 and 49) regarding the halachic impermissibility of the common<BR>practice in
schools of taking the property of their students (such as<BR>balls and the
like), even if the intention is to return them at the end<BR>of the day or the
end of the term on the grounds that it is stealing<BR>(this is a great one to
raise at a shabbas/yom tov table where you have<BR>a bunch of teachers as guests
- you get howls of outrage about how this<BR>is necessary and essential and a
school cannot run otherwise).
<<<BR>Regards<BR>Chana<BR><BR></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>>>>>></DIV>
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<DIV>If the student handbook says that toys, cellphones and so on will be
confiscated if used improperly during class time, and if there is a page that
has to be signed by the parents and the child ("I have read the handbook and
agree to abide by the terms"), then I just don't see what the problem is.
This is common practice in the elementary and high schools I am familiar with --
to have the rules spelled out in writing and signed. You say the Bnai
Banim has a "series" of teshuvos, but I am puzzled as to how much could there
possibly be to say! Maybe if property is confiscated without
warning.....? But surely even without written notice, kids know that their
property is subject to confiscation? What teacher's desk doesn't have a
drawer full of confiscated items to be returned on Friday or on the last day of
school in June?</DIV>
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<DIV>Actually Bais Yakov of Miami has a box in the office where all the girls
are required to deposit their cellphones when they arrive in the morning, to be
picked up again at the end of the day. You could ask, why then bring
cellphones to school at all? The answer is that many of the older girls
drive carpool, and a driver needs a cellphone. A passenger needs a
cellphone too, in case the driver is out sick one day
or something. Probably student carpools are not an issue in
Israel. But anyway, suppose a girl failed to leave her phone in the
office? She KNOWS it will be taken away if she is caught with it.
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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT><BR><FONT color=#0000ff><STRONG>--Toby
Katz<BR>=============</STRONG></FONT><BR><FONT color=#0000ff>Romney -- good
values, good family, good
hair<BR><BR><BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------
</FONT></DIV>
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