All over the world, including Cal High,“intextication,” or the rapid increase in dependence of texting, is spreading.

Texting is considered a distraction in school. Front office secretary Sharon Nudelman, who is in charge of collecting the phones sent to the main office, believes that students should not have cell phones out in class because they distract students from class instruction.

Nudelman said the office receives about 20 phones per day from teachers that collect cell phones belonging to students caught texting.

Freshman Rebecca Jensen had her phone taken away and her teacher sent the office an e-mail. 

Because this was Rebecca’s second violation, the assistant principal called her house. Rebecca promised not to text in class ever again, but she sees many other students texting.

“Everyone does it, everyone texts in class,” said Rebecca. “You can’t really stop it.”

The first violation of the prohibition of texting in class results in a student’s name being put on a list.

The second time a student is caught, his or her name is again put on the list and parents are notified. 

If the rule is violated a third time, the student receives a Monday school and his or her parent has to pick up the phone.The student cannot have their phone on campus for the remainder of the semester. 

Though it was unusual, there was a case this year in which a student was suspended for disregarding the three warnings.

Nudelman thinks banning cell phones permanently would help, but is unlikely to happen.

“I think it would work if more teachers would help out,” said Nudelman. “Not all teachers confiscate phones. They just give warnings or send names.”

English teacher Stacey Westley thinks texting in class is distracting and can impact a student’s grade.

Westley said she warns students to put away phones if she sees them but sends them to the office when it becomes a repeated problem.

Unfortunately, texting is not only a problem in schools, but also on the road.

Though texting is a good tool to get information with ease, it can be a  hazardous distraction while driving. 

Texting while driving is even more dangerous than talking on the phone, as it has quickly become a leading contributor to car accidents. 

According to CNN.com, 46 percent of drivers 16-17 years old admit to texting while driving. There are 10 states, including California, that ban texting while driving, according to the Government Highway Safety Association.

Junior Kyle Zilinskas admits to texting while driving, but says that he has never been caught or involved in an accident.

“I just put the phone on my steering wheel,” said Kyle. 

Despite its drawbacks, students love the convenience of text messaging.

 “I text people more than I call them because it’s easier,” said freshman Sarah Rowenhorst. “You can text while you’re doing something else but you can’t necessarily call any time.”

Sophomore Cody Ebert, who sends and receives an average of 100 texts a day, thinks texting is helpful. 

“With texting, I can talk to many people at once, but with calling, it’s only one person,” Cody said.

Sophomore Zach Petterson does not text, and he has mixed feelings about it. 

“I think it’s annoying because it makes people anti-social,” said Zach. “But it is completely silent as opposed to a phone and it takes less time.”

Because of the lack of personal interaction in texting, problematic misinterpretations can occur. Junior Lauren Heaney prefers to talk on the phone because of texting misunderstandings. 

“The tone of voice can be misinterpreted over texting,” said Lauren. “For example, it can be taken as mean when you are just joking.”

Nevertheless, students continue to become dependent on their texts. Students such as senior R.J. Barranti and freshman Carly Tye, who are “addicted” to texting, rely on texting as the primary source of communication.

As the SMS, also known as the text message, is increasing in popularity, efficiency, and convenience, more and more people are becoming “intexticated.”