Re: Cell Phones in the High School Classroom

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@Cakers3 There are so few other problems that I see at school. Yes, kids do disagree and hurt each other’s feelings and there is crying and fighting over a ball on the playground...the usual stuff.

But, the #1 problem is disruption in the classroom. A lot of it, but not all, is due to phones and electronic gaming devices.

teacher discipline? LOL they are not allowed to discipline the kids in public school anymore. Sure, they might get a detention and have to miss recess or a red mark on a chart...they don’t care. Some kids miss recess everyday.

The rules are clearly in the student handbook, but are ignored. The kids are not allowed to charge their phones at school, but they even do that. When I tell them they are not allowed to do that, they laugh and say “you can’t do anything to stop me.” And, they are right.

If you haven’t spent any time in a school in the last 10 years or so, you have no idea what is going on there.

I was a skeptic too, but not anymore.

And yes, many kids are there to learn and I feel sorry for them. They have a struggle to learn with all of the distractions.

Cakers3 · ‎06-17-2015

@Carmie wrote:
@Cakers3 There are so few other problems that I see at school. Yes, kids do disagree and hurt each other’s feelings and there is crying and fighting over a ball on the playground...the usual stuff.

But, the #1 problem is disruption in the classroom. A lot of it, but not all, is due to phones and electronic gaming devices.

teacher discipline? LOL they are not allowed to discipline the kids in public school anymore. Sure, they might get a detention and have to miss recess or a red mark on a chart...they don’t care. Some kids miss recess everyday.

The rules are clearly in the student handbook, but are ignored. The kids are not allowed to charge their phones at school, but they even do that. When I tell them they are not allowed to do that, they laugh and say “you can’t do anything to stop me.” And, they are right.

If you haven’t spent any time in a school in the last 10 years or so, you have no idea what is going on there.

I was a skeptic too, but not anymore.

And yes, many kids are there to learn and I feel sorry for them. They have a struggle to learn with all of the distractions.

@Carmie It's too bad for the students who do follow rules and are there for an education. I understand your pov but it seems to me that if the phones/gaming devices are the main problems then somewhere along the line the issue was not nipped in the bud, so to speak.

This issue with cell phones/gaming devices didn't spring up overnight; that is what I was trying to say. Disgregarding rules is a symptom of how the school is run and the lack of support by parents.

It's too bad about your school; I have a grandchild in high school and while there are problems most are handled fairly well. And he isn't in a private or la-di-da neighborhood, either.

And yes, he takes his cell phone to school.

"" Compassion is a verb."-Thich Nhat Hanh

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@Noel7 I am not in a position to take phones away for a month, but I know it will work.

If there are other better solutions, I’d be open to hear them.

My Alma Mater does not allow phones to be seen anywhere in the school. You can only use your cell before and after school and not in the building. If they drop out of your pocket or purse, you are in violation. It is suggested to keep them in your locker.

You can only contact your parents during school hours or they You on the school phone in the office. They have monetary fines for each offense and after school detention and demarets. You can get suspensions after so many demarets or even removed from the school permanently. They don’t play around. Rules are rules and they enforce them. Students and parents sign a contract every year.

It works, but the school is private. Public schools can’t do that.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@Cakers3 My grand daughters take their phone to school too. One is in HS and the other Middle school. Both schools have rules on phones. If they violate them, the principal takes the phone and the parents must come into the office to get them.

Neither one has had that happen, but they have school friends who have had their phone taken. One parent couldn’t get off from work to get the phone for a few days and her child suffered phone withdraw. I had to hear the whole sad story from the middle schooler.

maestra · ‎03-09-2010

@CLHS68 wrote:
They do not need them in class. Collect as they come in the door & give back after class.

A teacher doesnt want to touch the phones in case any porn could be on it (THANKS TO THE OWNER/STUDENT). Teacher can be accused of downloading the porn.

I'm not making this up..

maestra · ‎03-09-2010

@Noel7 wrote:
@Carmie

Not all rules are good, many are not. I agree a student should be punished for using their phone in class. I do not agree the principal should take the phone for a month.

There used to be a rule of law that said women couldn't vote. There was another rule that said black people could not marry white people. Examples.

Just because something is a rule does not mean it is a good rule or that it should be automatically accepted.

I'm not buying into cell phone misuse= human rights violations of women and minority Americans

When was the last time you taught in a middle school or high school? Cell phone misuse is a problem. That's why rules have been established-good/bad are subjective opinions.

sandy53 · ‎03-12-2010

I am a retired high school teacher and am still in classrooms supervising student teachers for our state university. I see cell phones as a huge problem in high school classrooms. I don't care how good a teacher is, you cannot compete with a cell phone and a teen who is addicted to it. I don't see cell phones as much a disruption in the classroom, but rather as a distraction for the student who should be concentrating on the lesson.

I would never recommend taking a cell phone from a student. There is usually no secure place in the classroom to store it. New cell phones cost almost $1000 and as soon as one disappears, the teacher is going to be paying for it.

Cell phones are changing our culture. Look at an adult couple having a nice meal in a restaurant and each one is spending time on their cell phone instead of conversing with each other. No wonder teachers have a heck of a time keeping teenagers off their phones for a class period. We can't pretend we are back in the day when chewing gum was the biggest problem in the classroom.

One way parents could help is to monitor their teen's cell phone use. Check it for when it is being used. If the teen is using it for facebook, texting, instagram, etc. during class time, then the parent can decide on the consequenses.

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

@maestra wrote:
@Noel7 wrote:
@Carmie

Not all rules are good, many are not. I agree a student should be punished for using their phone in class. I do not agree the principal should take the phone for a month.

There used to be a rule of law that said women couldn't vote. There was another rule that said black people could not marry white people. Examples.

Just because something is a rule does not mean it is a good rule or that it should be automatically accepted.

I'm not buying into cell phone misuse= human rights violations of women and minority Americans

When was the last time you taught in a middle school or high school? Cell phone misuse is a problem. That's why rules have been established-good/bad are subjective opinions.

@maestra

How did you miss where I said I agreed cell phones were a problem in schools? I’m all for rules having to do with regulating cell phones, however I, and numerous others, do not agree with a principal taking a phone for a month. How did you miss all of that, including the teacher above?

Twins Mom · ‎04-03-2016

Sandy53 and several others, you hit nail on head when you used term “distraction.” Those who want to learn are distracted or unable to get information or attention from teacher or classmates because of things going on in classroom which are not a part of class. It would be huge if the general rule would be phoned out in backpack, purse, etc and left there during class. If mom or dad needs to contact during class they can contact office for immediate emergency, otherwise it can wait for between classes. Learning that one can be without phone in hand for periods of time during school day might actually help individuals to be without while driving. Win/win