craigdailypress.com

Mariaha Morningstar keeps her headphones around her neck all day.

"I think I would die without music," the Moffat County High School junior said, taking a break from the hardcore punk of A Fire Inside during lunch Wednesday.

She even listens to music in class sometimes. Although she keeps her CD player close, Morningstar leaves her cell phone at home.

"I'd probably get in trouble because it rings constantly," she said. "It's at home taking messages for me."

MCHS Principal Jane Krog-man said most students do not ditch their cell phones during the school day, though. As technology advances, she sees the hallways filled with the latest phones, mp3 players and handheld organizers.

On Wednesday, just the third day of the new school year, culinary arts teacher Nancy Loughran caught one of her students with an iPod, a handheld device that holds music, photos and appointments.

"I just asked him to turn the thing off because we had to get some work done," Loughran said. "I think we're going to see more of the iPods because they're so small."

But the most popular device remains at the top of the list for high school students.

"Cell phones are really the biggest thing kids are carrying and using," Krogman said.

A 2004 report by the Prince-ton Survey Research Associates reported about half of American teenagers own cell phones. But sophomore Bobby Schneegas said at least 80 percent of his friends have them.

Students at MCHS are allowed to use them between class periods and during lunch.

"We just ask that they don't disrupt class," Krogman said. "So they aren't allowed to be on during class."

If the use of cell phones and other devices becomes a problem, she said administrators may prohibit their use in the future. But, for the time being, teens make calls between schoolwork.

"I have friends in California, and you don't have to pay long distance on a cell phone," senior Michelle Hardin said.

She has used her phone to make calls during lunch to friends in college, but she has not brought her phone to school this week. Last year, her phone rang during algebra class, and her teacher called her out.

"I turned it off because he knew it was me," Hardin said. "I was in the front of the class."

But cell phones are not just used to make calls.

Text messages may be sent between telephones and often come with an additional charge. But they are a more inconspicuous way to keep in touch, Hardin said.

"It's cool to text message people during class," she said.

Although teenagers think it's great to be instantly connected to their friends, there are benefits for parents, as well.

"I have a cell phone so my mom, if I go somewhere, she can call and find me," Morningstar said.

But legislatures see cell phone use as a risk, too.

Colorado lawmakers banned teenagers from driving while on their cell phones earlier this month. The new law targets those with restricted licenses, namely, young drivers. Officers may only issue a citation if the driver has been pulled over for another offense.

Although cell phones remain the hottest item, teenagers say instant messaging online is something they will stay up doing until the early morning hours.

"It's a lot funner (than talking) because you can send smiley faces," freshman Tasha Bullock said.

Her twin, Tawni Bullock, likes to talk on the phone and online at the same time, often with several simultaneous online chats."You can talk to more people that way," she said.

Some students bring laptop computers to school, senior Amanda Cutler said, "but only the people who can afford them."

Cutler said pagers used to be popular, but now her cell phone is the one thing she won't leave home without.

"You can always get a hold of people and people can get a hold of you," she said. "It goes wherever I go."

Michelle Perry may be reached at 824-7031 or mperry@craigdailypress.com.