To text at school? Or not?
p2pnet news view Freedom | Mobiles:- School principal Steve Gray (right) decided it was time to ban cell phones at Port Hardy Senior Secondary school in Port Hardy on Vancouver Island.
So, using school funds, he splashed out $115 US for a machine to scramble cellphone signals.
The result was predictable and now students are at it again.
Said Jakykong in a Reader’’s Write »»»
Students using a cell phone in class is an interesting issue. I see two sides to the coin, and neither requires this level of discipline.
1. students passing grades. Students who text frequently in class do not pay attention to the class (for obvious reasons). It stands to reason that a student failing a few classes because of his cell phone use will probably realize relatively quickly that it’s not a good idea to use the cell phone in the classroom. The parents can discipline in this regard as well (a student of this age certainly isn’t buying *their own* cell phone!)
2. Disruptions in class are bad, regardless of who is disrupting or how. A student texting someone is not disruptive (it’s certainly counterproductive, but it is quite quiet). A student laughing about their texts, having a ringer or loud vibrator or flashing lights to let them know they got a new text message, or bothering other students in the classroom with their messages is disruptive, and you don’t need a special cell phone rule to deal with that issue.
3. For the student receiving a text message, if they aren’t disturbing the classroom (see #2), then they should be able to choose for themselves whether to accept the message or not. They have a simple option if it’s distracting to them: turn the damn thing off!
4. For tests or exams, I can understand it being against the rules to have a cell phone. It’s justified. If it’s the only place where they are completely forbidden, you probably won’t have as many rule-breakers to begin with. But for the rest, it’s fairly easy to spot someone using their cell phone. It’s not really possible to be discreet enough about it to avoid being caught cheating.
5. Back on the compliance issue. My brother is in a high school right now where the students are not allowed to have a cell phone even between classes or at lunch, or anywhere on campus even when they’re not in class. That sort of rule just makes the school seem like a jail to kids. What do you expect to come of it? Lax off on the strictness a bit, and you might get better compliance rates.
That said, it’s really the school’s choice whether to allow cell phones or not. I’m just trying to point in the right direction
.
DISCLAIMER: I neither own nor operate a cell phone at this time. I am a college student, not a high school student, so some of the aforementioned issues may or may not apply in both situations. I tried to consider high school only, however, so take it with a grain of salt.
“Oh come on what about recording lessons etc,” says an anonymous poster »»»
Not to play down any of the above excellent rebuttals but I have had friends record important lessons for me using their mp3 players when I was ill bak in high school.
If they had not recorded those lessons for me (without the teachers permiss i might add) I wouldn’t have been prepared to hand in the assignment the following day. Which would in fact have created more work for the instructor because they would either a) have to re-teach it to me or b) have to give me an extension while other students would also demand the same date for submission.
It does go the other way they are distracting and that is all I will give the principal on this 1. The power of technology to enhance learning should outway the distraction argument in my opinion (assuming the ones who do use their phones at the bare minimum turn off the ringer).
Said Schmock in a comment post »»»
Oh, come on, guys. Many cellphone users are nothing but a permanent pain in the a***. There’s nothing more irritating than somebody next to you texting, twitting, or even worse talking (with his CAPS LOCKED VOICE ON, of course).
Kudos, Sir Gray!
@ Reader’s Write: Of course you can use your cellphone recording function although the signal is being jammed. And btw – there are way more reasonable means than cellphones against gunmen running mad in schools. How about weapons for every student, or banning computer games…
ban cell phones – School principal jammed student cellphones, March 31, 2009
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