Suspension incident
Dean Liptak, a high school science teacher in Florida, was suspended for five days without pay for using a signal jammer in class to prevent students from using their cell phones. In a letter of reprimand to Liptak, Kurt Browning, superintendent of the Pasco County Board of Education, pointed out that Liptak's actions not only showed poor judgment, but also posed a serious risk to critical safety communications and could prevent others from making 911 calls.
Reasons why teachers use signal jammers
Liptak is accused of using a signal jammer in his classroom at Fivay High School between March 31 and April 2. Verizon found interference on cell phone towers on campus. The teacher said he did this to keep students focused on their studies. He wrote in his letter to the school district that "if any type of emergency occurs, he can press the off button and the cell phone signal will be activated immediately." Liptak also said that a local police officer told him that "state law does not prohibit these devices as long as they are not used for malicious purposes."
Consequences of using jammers
Although Liptak's original intention was for educational purposes, his use of jammers violated the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission. The Federal Communications Commission stated that "federal law prohibits the operation, marketing or sale of any type of jamming device." It is not clear where Liptak got the device. He mentioned in the letter that he found the device on Amazon and watched related production videos on YouTube.
Background and impact
Liptak, a former professional wrestler, was reprimanded in 2013 for asking some violent questions on an exam, such as the speed at which students were thrown against the wall by the teacher and the mass of a car running over a baby. This incident once again pushed him to the cusp of public opinion. Although he claimed that he used the jammer to maintain classroom discipline, the behavior caused greater controversy.