DEAR STRAIGHT TALK: Dear Straight Talk: I teach high school civics. I’m interested in a solution to the problem of cell phone distractions in high school classrooms. Everyone knows they are a huge deterrent to learning. Considering the problems with confiscation and/or “checking” phones, what do you and your panel think is the best way to stop cell phone use in class? — Santa Ana, Calif.
Editor’s Note: When adults look back on high school, 99 percent of their favorite classes were run by strict teachers. Strictness regarding cell phone use in the classroom is needed more than ever — and will work. We owe it to our kids. (Perhaps some teacher assertiveness training is in order on this topic, with administrators promising to run interference with angry parents.) In the policy I recommend here, innocent kids who get detention because the cell phone user won’t admit guilt will undoubtedly complain to parents who will get bent out of shape. But teachers need some recourse for the impossible task of knowing where a buzz or beep is coming from. If nobody fesses up in college, profs simply cancel class or assign extra homework — and in that environment, it works instantly. In high school, a rebellious teen could control the class with this loophole. Therefore, if it’s not obvious who is causing the disturbance, and the violator won’t confess, without further ado, teachers need to send the whole cluster of kids to detention and continue on with class. After this, peer pressure starts working — or kids start sitting where they know there won’t be problems. Which is where parents want them sitting anyway.
Other ideas on cell phone policies? Let’s hear them! —Lauren
Comments
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I think the policy should be that cell phones must be turned off and put away during class to avoid the distractions they cause. If anyone is caught talking or texting or if their phone goes off during class, it should be taken away for a certain period of time. However, I think we should be able to bring our phones to school and talk and text between classes and at lunch. What’s the harm in that? One place they should be totally banned is the locker room. I’ve heard horror stories about girls taking pictures of other girls naked for their boyfriends or to put on the Internet to humiliate girls they don’t like. This scares me to death. I’m shy about anybody seeing me naked except my sisters who I share a room with and a couple of very close friends. I’m uncomfortable changing and showering in front of everybody in the locker room, but I’ve learned to handle it as was discussed in a previous column. However, the idea of somebody taking pictures of me at a time like that and showing them to guys or putting them on the Internet scares me to death. I therefore think cell phones should be totally banned from the locker room and anybody caught taking pictures should be expelled from school!
Sally
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TrySafetyFirst has a remedy for this issue providing both students and educators the best of both worlds. Educators can use the phone as a teaching tool for part of the class and then with the flip of a switch sleep all phones when giving an exam or other instruction (emergency 911 and 2 parental emergency numbers always remain active). Students can use the phone before class, after class, between class, and during class (when the teacher permits), and during lunch.
If you like this technology or for more information, please visit
http://facebook.com/cellphoneprotocols
