Texting in class

As a teaching assistant at BWHS, we see this issue on a daily basis. Some teachers are very strict, some are not. I'm just interested in other people's opinions.....especially those of high school aged parents.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40381651/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/?gt1=43001

 

In my opinion, students should not have cell phones, IPODs, earpieces, etc. active during classes.

I cannot imagine what is so important that a child needs to access their cell phone or other device while they are in the classroom.

I have two children at BWHS and they both say that they have witnessed other students cheating during tests and quizzes using their cell phones. Both of my children have told their teachers about what they have seen but no action was taken by the teachers against those students.

 

I have a Freshman at BWHS. I agree- cell phones should be turned off during school. I was surprised that BWHS allowed iPod usage pretty much all day. But my son does tell me that he would "die" if he couldn't listen to his ipod at certain times of the day. (mainly lunch- he claims)

I have a daughter in SHMS and some of her teachers allow texting. I also disagree here. All of the teachers should enforce the school rule together.

The only reason I allow her to take the phone to school is because she stays after school 3 days a week for activities and I want her to be able to call me if something goes wrong with the activity bus or during her walk home from the activity bus stop. (it is further from her normal stop)

 

That cell phone/ipod/etc would be mine if I was the teacher and caught a student using it during a class. The parents could pick it up after school.

 

I find this topic very interesting as well.

Legal question: If the teacher takes the phone/ipod from a student until the end of class, and it happens to have a "sext" on it, would the teacher be in possession of child pornography?

If that could be argued, that's probably why a lot of teachers fear enforcing the rule.

Unfortunately, too, I've heard from teachers that *parents* complain when their kids phones get taken away. "What if there's an emergency and I have to get in touch with my son/daughter?" (sigh.)

 

I may be wrong but I think teachers cannot take away cell phones, they have to be voluntarily given up.

 

I hope that's not the case. A teacher should be able to take any item away that is distracting anyone from learning (or teaching, for that matter). If there's an "emergency" a parent can always call the school office and have the office staff relay the message to the student (in a true emergency situation).

Of course they'd need to return the device at the end of the school day, but I don't think that's in question.

Does anyone know for sure what the policy is in Loudoun Co. schools?

 

Personally I am against this with cell phone texting, kind of like note passing.

It is interesting that the next 20-something generation has very ideas about the internet and technology. And you are very nearly talking about another generation yet with grade school kids.

My daughter (in college) felt for a long time that internet was a necessity whereas I feel it is a luxury (i.e. job goes away so does the internet, at least as far as being piped into the house). And I have gotten used to her texting instead of calling sometimes.

Although it is interesting this last week she has had no internet due to a computer failure and says she kind of likes it. I thought back to my days in college and I did not even have a computer...

Maybe someday there will be a backlash against all this (as I sit typing away on a laptop, we have 5 computers...).

Mike

 

Cell phones are destroying students ability to focus in class. They should be checked at the door and forfeited anytime they violate the rules on their use.

I checked my sons phone records and literally every minute of the day there were incoming and outgoing texts during the entire time he was in class. If you think your child is not constantly texting during school hours you are kidding yourself.

 

I totally agree! I found that my daughter had been texting during the school day, and I was FURIOUS....especially since my husband and I both work for LCPS! Needless to say, she now puts it on the kitchen counter before she goes to school. Unless your child stays after school every day, they don't even need to have it with them.