A sleaze MMS (multi-media messaging) sent by a school student here has left educationists aghast and renewed demands for banning mobile phones from schools.

"School children use (mobile phones) to flirt, bunk classes, exchange dirty jokes and tally answers in class tests. It's not always possible for us to keep an eye on each and every student to ensure there's no hanky panky," a teacher in a top school told IANS.

"It is disturbing to say the least that this kind of sleaze goes on in co-educational schools. Would we want our daughters to be subjected to these kinds of attitudes from their co-students?" asked an agitated parent, Rakhi Bhatia.

"The answer lies not in stringent policing but in inculcating a strong sense of what is right and wrong. Wielding the stick can often be counterproductive," Bhatia added.

Even as school authorities struggle with ways to regulate the burgeoning number of student cell phone users, parents say they give their children the gadgets for security and other reasons.

Some parents describe mobile phones as a lifeline for busy families but many educationists point out the gizmos disturb the entire education process and contribute to falling moral standards.

What has sparked the present outrage is the revelation that a student of the capital's Delhi Public School (DPS), R.K. Puram, passed around a sexually explicit MMS of a girl in his class.

The school has suspended about half a dozen students, including the boy and the girl involved in the incident.

Said Shyama Chona, principal of the DPS where the incident occurred: "The school authorities cannot do anything about this without the cooperation of parents."

"Parents should also take utmost care to prevent the misuse of facilities they are providing to their children," Chona told IANS.

"Children should not be allowed to bring cell phones to school. This should be done by constantly talking to them and convincing them about this," said Sara George, principal of St. George School here that has banned the devices.

Students in her school are constantly counselled on the reasons for the ban.

"We talk to them and explain things to them. I don't have any problem with the students to follow these rules. Sometimes we get people from outside to talk to them," George said.

Educationist Madhu Chandra, a former principal, disagreed with the punishment handed to the two students, even as she supported a ban on mobile phones in schools.

"You cannot give them chances to misuse mobile phones and then take strict action against them. There must be a sympathetic approach to the issue," she argued.

Chandra also blamed parents for the misuse of the mobile phones by students in school.

"Today's parents do not have time to spend with their children. They would prefer to give instructions to children on mobile phones. The children are left to themselves and this leads to many problems," Chandra contended.

Though she feels that mobile phones should be banned in schools, Chandra said teachers should be the role models for students.

"You cannot ask the students to refrain from using cell phones when teachers themselves use them in schools," Chandra pointed out.

Eminent educationist Yashpal was apprehensive about a ban on cell phones in schools.

"You cannot just eliminate all these modern technologies and facilities," he maintained.

"You cannot escape these devices. I think one has to give emphasis to individual behaviour. The students should decide themselves. That's a fairer way," Yashpal contended.

The US National School Safety and Security Service has pointed out mobile phones could damage security systems. Hoax calls could also be sent to the mobile phones, leading to major commotion.

--Indo-Asian News Service