Get Schooled

By SET

July 14, 2006 02:27 PM | Link to this

Cellphones are critical to the kids. So here’s how you handle it. If the kid violates a cellphone rule the teacher confiscates the cellphone and ceremonously places it in cellphone jail. That’s a safe (They’re real cheap) small enough to fit in the teacher’s desk or cabinet. A locked drawer will do.

The kid can have the cell phone back whenever the teacher gets around to it. End of the day, next morning, whatever. It doesn’t take much to put the kid into cell phone withdrawal.

The important thing is you give it back relatively soon so you can take it away again. If the particular cellphone gets “3 strikes” it goes to the principal’s safe for a longer period of time such as 3 days or so. (That’s 25 to life in kid years).

They will learn very quickly to comply with the classroom rules. Kids are quick learners when their interests are involved.

You don’t want to keep the phone too long because you need the kids to have them back soon enough so you can take it back again.

Parents can play this game also. If the kid doesn’t respond to cell phone jail, tell them their bedroom door is next.

By SET

July 14, 2006 02:30 PM | Link to this

PS. You don’t even have to raise your voice to do the phone (or the bedroom door) act. If these kids annoy you, just systematically take away everything they love. Then give it back a few days later and do it again for a little bit longer. Train them like a puppy.

By Amazed (Independent Woman)

July 14, 2006 02:47 PM | Link to this

Since school starts at 9:00 and ends at 4PM for middle school. I plan to get my 6th grader a cell phone. Unfortunately, I have to be at work at 9am and I’m stuck in rush hour traffic for about 2 hours each way. I understand the rules and concerns about ringing phones, but my daughters wareabouts and safety is my primary concern. I have already instructed my child to turn off the phone as soon as she’s on the bus and keep it off until she gets off the bus at home. I plan to check phone records to see if it’s being used during School Hours. She’s only allowed to use it as a personal communication device from 6pm - 8pm and on weekends.

My childs principal understands and has already instructed parents on the procedure to get phones returned when it has been confiscated.

Teachers must understand that sometimes a cell phone is not just a toy, parents buy for pleasure. Trust me, I would rather spend my hard earned money on other things.

By Gwinnett Teacher

July 14, 2006 02:54 PM | Link to this

SET - what you’re saying would work well if we weren’t in such a litigious society - especially in public schools.

In reality, in my county, we are supposed to confiscate the cell phone and the parents are supposed to come pick the phones up between 7:00 am and 8:00 am or between 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm ONLY ON FRIDAYS. What actually happens is the teacher takes up the phone and turns it in to the appropriate administrator. The administrator then decides what, if any, consequence the student will receive. If the student is an athlete, has a “powerful” parent who is involved in any booster club at the school, or is a “good kid”, the phone would be promptly returned to the student. The student then comes back to the classroom mocking the teacher and telling all of his friends that he got his phone back.

The other popular scenario is, the phone rings and the teacher attempts to confiscate the phone. The student refuses to give the teacher the phone and faces the same consequences as if he actually did give up the phone! There is nothing done about the blatant refusal to follow a direct order from an authority figure.

Now, for the punchline - if the parent claims that our pickup times are inconvenient for them (which they should be!), the administrator will give the phone back to the student or the parent at any time on any day!

There have also been incidents where the student (or his friend) have gone into the teacher’s file cabinet or desk drawer and “stolen” the phone. Then, the teacher is accused of losing the phone and has to replace the cellphone with his own funds!

The cellphone policy is never adhered to and the kids and the parents know this.

By OldSchool

July 14, 2006 02:56 PM | Link to this

The last time I checked, there were phones all over our campus. I suspect that is the same for all schools. And I’m not talking about cellphones. Parents DO need to be able to get in touch with their kids and kids DO need the added safety provided by access to a cellphone. However, there is absolutely no reason on earth for a parent to call a child on a cellphone during the school day and the same for the child calling the parent. And don’t even try to give the example of forgotten assignments. They can suffer the lesson learned or use a school phone. If there was a family emergency, you wouldn’t call them, you’d come in person. What students are actually doing is chatting to friends, setting up dates, texting who knows what (including test answers), and even pulling pranks that should get them suspended.

The prank thing happened to me. When I returned to school to get things ready for a substitute after my elderly mother suffered a stroke, I found myself answering the adjoining workroom’s phone a half dozen times during one class only to find no one on the other end. I finally unplugged the phone because my nerves were shot…I was expecting a call from the hospital and the doctors. It turned out to be a student who was redialing the number with his cellphone in his pocket out of sight. He was sitting right there in my lab enjoying my growing anxiety. The same student had called in several “messages” for other students during other classes to enjoy the interruption by the main office passing those “messages” along.

Know this: those cellphones are great AFTER SCHOOL but have absolutely no business even being on the student’s person during the day. It is a huge problem- calls, text messaging, stolen and lost phones, even getting lunch delivered (against our school’s rules). Your children are NOT looking at their cellphones as an emergency link to mom. It’s a status symbol and another distraction. Your little darlings are leading a life totally out of your radar range. Even the most trustworthy are doing things you would not believe. (Mine did. You find out about it when they grow up and start having kids of their own.)

So what do I do? Our school’s policy is to take them up, turn them in to the main office where they are kept (turned on) until a parent picks them up in person. It’s not perfect but it works.

By Gwinnett Teacher

July 14, 2006 02:58 PM | Link to this

One more thing - all 4 of my sons (16, 16, 14 and 12) have a cellphone. But, they know that if their phone gets confiscated from them because they were using it during the school day - it’s a done deal! They will not get that phone back until my husband and I see fit.

By Counting the Days...

July 14, 2006 03:06 PM | Link to this

Teachers understand that cell phones are not toys, but I’m not sure that students do. They call each other in class and between classes…even if they are standing right beside each other. They text each other and take pictures with them. Some even cheat on tests with them.

Cell phones drove me insane this past year. Students are instructed to turn them off upon entering the building, but, let’s face it, most of them do not. I confiscated plenty this past year for going off in class and expect to confiscate plenty more this coming year. The horrible thing about confiscating one is that you can’t just discreetly take it up: you have to label it and then lock it up or be held accountable for it if something happens to it. All while the kid is arguing about “their rights being violated” and while the rest of the class is enjoying the scene. It wouldn’t be such a big deal, except on those times when kids call each other in class just to have it ring to disturb class. By the end of the year last year, I was collecting at least 10 a day….which was 10 too many, in my opinion.

This coming year, I’m not even going to have a classroom as I’ll be floating, so I won’t have an easily acceptable place to lock up things. I’m putting in my class syllabus that all cell phones will be confiscated, labeled, and sent to the office for safe keeping.

By Litmajor

July 14, 2006 03:09 PM | Link to this

My son (11) received a cellphone last year for Christmas and he took it to school with no problem. He knows that it is only for emergencies and he never uses it. It’s on our plan so checking it is not a problem.

If it was confiscated at school, I wouldn’t have a problem with it because it is supposed to stay in his bookbag. For breaking the rules, he’d have to deal with the consequences at school and home.

By taech overseas

July 14, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this

SET-

So by my calculations:

Each cell phone has to ring 3 times— times 180 kids- that would be 440 rings. Every three days? I’m supposed to keep track of this when—- in my spare time? Have the phone ring- stop my lesson- argue with the kid and then follow up with (good god) MORE paperwork?

Nope sorry- if the school rule is no cell phones- then (gasp!) even if you are the parent- that means NO CELL PHONES!!! Even if you want them to have them. There are many ways of keeping track of your child and having them check in with you.

You all would not believe the number of cell phone calls that come from parents themselves in the middle of the day. (Just checking in… piano lesson after school…do you want me to bring your soccer uniform to practice?….)

Yes, you are the parents- but your wishes and commands do not always trump school rules and the well being of all students.

By Nja

July 14, 2006 03:19 PM | Link to this

I don’t think that we can get around the issue of students bringing cell phones to school. Administrators should send home a disclosure notice, stating the consequences of students using the cell phone during the school day. Students should not be allowed to have a cell phone at school unless parents sign and return this notice. It is my understanding that teachers try to follow the procedures when students have a cell phone however, the administration often does not back the teacher.

By Counting the days

July 14, 2006 03:24 PM | Link to this

Most schools do send home a notice about cell phone usage in the form of the student handbook which has a page to be signed and returned. Unfortunately, most parents (and students) never really read the student handbook or they seem to feel that they are the exception to the rules.

By thomas

July 14, 2006 03:25 PM | Link to this

Again this is another meaningless argument brought on by our modern day arogant, I-want-my-way society.

First of all, who says that CHILDREN need cellphones? In my opinion, CHILDREN don’t need cellphones at SCHOOL. This safety argument is invalid. Children are safe at school. They are in a controlled, structured, and monitored at all times. Who do they need to call. If by chance, they do need to call MOM or DAD, they can use the school phone. The safety argument is just an excuse for the justification of carrying a cellphone at school.

Second, cellphones now are just another item that is part of conspicious consumption. The phones symbolize “look at me, I’ve got a cellphone”. In reality, many of these cellphones people have are overused and overrated. WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO? MOST CONVERSATION ON CELLPHONES ARE MEANINGLESS AND CAN WAIT UNTIL YOU GET TO A REAL PHONE.

Thirdly, student use of cellphones in schools undermines order and authority. Surely you can understand how ringing phones disrupts class, along with students talking on phones. Also, bringing phones to school tends to end up with students and parents “rubbing their face in it” to school personnel. It’s another way to undercut and undermine the school’s authority, rules system, and structure. Just like another poster noted in regards to return of confiscated phones at his/her school. Some people get to have their way.

Now, I’ll tell you— I’ve had students bring cellphones to school on very rare occasions. I tell them to leave it at home. At the elementary level, this usually doesn’t get out of hand. But most elementary students are not arogant, disrespectful, and defiant. An errant cellphone (one brought to school) does not usually cause the disruption to order as it does at the middle and high school level. Most elementary schools are still halfway civil.

By Counting the days...

July 14, 2006 03:33 PM | Link to this

Thomas…BRAVO!!!

By MJW

July 14, 2006 03:35 PM | Link to this

” Cell phones are critical to kids” , claims SET. How far up that cavity will your head go? Read the stats on cell phone usage and teen-agers driving. It’s not enough to give them a high powered SUV to drive around in, lets give them a cell phone too. You and your kids can maime and kill yourselves all day long; its people like who who arm your kids with killing machines called teen-agers behind the wheel of a car with a phone to the ear killing others that bother me. Perhaps your kids will actually try READING if they don’t have a phone and a call plan with 900 minutes a week to talk on all day. I bet you turn your kids loose on the computer at night too; mindlessly thinking they’re innocently chatting to other teen-agers on MySpace, when in reality you’re feeding a pedophiles dreams and desires.

By Counting the days...

July 14, 2006 03:36 PM | Link to this

Thomas…BRAVO!!! I confiscated a $300 Razor cell phone from a 7th grader this past year who was throwing it around at break. That’s enough money to feed my husband and myself for a month and he was treating it like it was a football.

Wanna know why kids are growing up feeling like they are priveleged? It’s because their parents are throwing money and material goods at them instead of being their parents.

By SET

July 14, 2006 03:40 PM | Link to this

taech overseas:

It’s your class - set your own rules. Are you looking for my approval? I hope not. Rules will be different from school to school and class to class. You may ban the phones. I may tell the kids at first that they can keep their phones turned to silent, no vibrate, and check messages between class. I’ll change if I can’t make that work out. I might want one rule for 1st grade and another for 10th.

If circumstances allow I’d like to train the mutts to have the phones and control them. Just like in real life. Maybe that won’t work with some mutts. It would have worked with me and my cohorts. We were pretty housebroken.

But the biggest rule is: What the teacher says, goes.

The phones and the internet don’t bother me so much as how the kids are allowed to use them. They have to be trained and are not good as forseeing consequences until they are better trained or older. I have read the riot act to some kids about MySpace. The smarter ones did as I told them (lock it down and tone it down) after I told them what I’d learned about them by studying their (no longer) openly accessable friends network. They hadn’t realized how much info about them and their activities could be gleaned by the postings of their friends and there friends own pages. Duhh..

My aged mother and her freinds have poor cellphone skills. They’ll answer the phone in a restaurant and shout into it (forgetting where they are) - try to answer while driving (and their driving is scary enough). They can’t work the voicemail and can’t store numbers, have problems working the address book, etc.

So we teach our kids how to drive so one day they can take our car keys away. Funny how things work out.

This cell phone thing is just another aspect of socializing the students. It’s Teaching.

By jim d

July 14, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this

Gwinnett Teach,

You obviously don’t work for Jim Markham.

He has earned my respect by strictly enforcing GCPS policy on phones.

By SET

July 14, 2006 03:55 PM | Link to this

Gwinnett Teacher:

I love your input.

If you work in a nuthouse you have nuthouse working conditions. At least in this state, a worker doesn’t ever pay for anything broken or damaged (no matter who’s property) in the course of the employment. That’s the employer’s liability.

If your school allows students to openly defy or mock teachers you need to leave now - it will only get worse. That info is all one needs to know that you are in an unredeemably bad place.

When I sub-taught in 9-12th grade the school district I worked for had a policy that a referral from a sub was an automatic out-of-school suspension. They had no problems getting subs from all over the region to answer their 5am calls for subs. The urban (black and hispanic) school district went begging and I wouldn’t even put my name on their lists. It seemed the largely minority district was more worried about not offending the students or their “parents”. It shows in their test results!

The cell phone thing is just an aspect of running a class or a school. I wish every teacher had the public school administration I worked for - and the public school administration where I went to High School. Insolent or disruptive students were quickly expelled to ghetto continuation schools where they belong. The teachers had some manipulative students but no acute confrontation problems.

How do you stand these working conditions? Do you think this is a normal way to work?

By OldSchool

July 14, 2006 03:56 PM | Link to this

I find it hard to believe that any elementary student really needs a cellphone. Most parents who know they will be late picking up a child make arrangements ahead of time…responsible parents that is. And in an emergency, even schools will look after students if they are given a heads-up by the parents.

It’s like kids with “grillz” made from chewing gum foil: they want to be cool and dangerous looking like the hiphop culture dictates. That cellphone adds to their cool factor. Watch and listen to them sometime. They take on a whole new persona when talking to their friends on a cellphone. I agree with others when I say no student needs a cellphone during school hours.

By Gwinnett Teacher

July 14, 2006 04:02 PM | Link to this

jim d - That makes 2 days in a row that I have to agree with you!

And by the way - I won a free lottery ticket with the scratch off I got yesterday!

By Amazed (Independent Woman)

July 14, 2006 04:04 PM | Link to this

If my school system had a NO CELL PHONE policy, I would provide one to my child regardless.

Sometimes a parent has to draw the line, when it comes to what I will allow the school system to dictate to my family. I’m willing to sign a permission slip to allow my child to carry a cell phone in her bookbag. Because, I believe that it should be kept out of the way of school activities. However, I will not allow anyone to dictate to me that my child is NOT Allowed to have a cell phone in her possession, because it annoys the teacher.

A good topic would be, how many teachers use their personal cell phones, to make personal calls, during school hours? I know that they are adults, but they are also conducting business.

By RA

July 14, 2006 04:05 PM | Link to this

My children don’t have cell phones because I am an at home parent and I take my kids to school in the morning and stand at the bus stop waiting for them to get off in the afternoon. But if I were a working parent, I would want my child to have a phone for safety purposes.

I think so many of the really heated debates between teachers and parents that I read on this blog are actually created by the fact that the working world and the school world operates on different schedules. It creates an untenable situation that puts stress on both sides and makes everyone think the other person is being selfish and unfair.

(i.e., Leia’s posts the other day about parents who won’t come to daytime conferences having poor priorities and that they shouldn’t call her at night and the working parents saying they want Saturday conferences and evening is the only time they can call.)

The 8am - 3pm, 9 month per year, mulitiple holidays off school schedule was designed for a different population living a different lifestyle. It was not designed for two income parents working 10 hour days with 2 hour commutes, shrinking vacation times, and fear of asking for a minute off for fear their jobs will be outsourced next week to India.

Part of this debate IS about how kids misbehave with their phones in class—it must be awful. I really cannot imagine how schools will work this out. Adults are incredibly rude and irresponsible about their phones, I can’t imagine how awful middle school students can be.

But the other part of the debate is TRULY student safety. Kids with working, commuting parents spend lots of time during the day with no parent to ensure their safety. Its only reasonable for a parent to want those children to have cell phones that give them instant access to help if they need it.

Its just another symptom of a whole system that needs to be redesigned for the world we live in today and not the one our grandparents lived in 75 years ago.

By Gwinnett Teacher

July 14, 2006 04:08 PM | Link to this

SET - You are absolutely right. The school in which I work has been losing teachers in droves for the past few years. I received the best news today - the state has approved a charter school in this county, and I plan on applying for a position there on the first day possible!

By Kelly

July 14, 2006 04:10 PM | Link to this

When I was in high school, cell phones were just becoming popular. We were not supposed to have them on us at all during school hours and if we were caught with a cell phone or (gasp…)pagers, they were sent to an administrator and a parent had to pick it up. I was in math class when a pager went off and my teacher at the time threatened that unless the person came forward with the pager, none of us would attend prom. And this was a legit threat, because this particular teacher helped with the prom committee.

By SET

July 14, 2006 04:11 PM | Link to this

MJW:

Take a deep breath and calm down. I don’t think the brats have to have a cell phone. What my statement was saying was they they believe they have to have it. So it’s something that can be used as a disciplinary tool.

And I was thinking about the Ozzie & Harriet days where a teacher had her or his own classroom when the Cell Phone Jail could be. Guess those days are gone. You all float room to room?

Guys, it’s not just the cell phones we seem to be hot over.

Maybe Patti can blog about whether a teacher or a student drives the most expensive car at your school?

How about students with Credit (not debit) cards? I had a MasterCard at 16. Other friends had Visa Credit Cards as young as 12 - in their own names. One family I went to school with turned over $250k in 1970’s dollars to each of their 4 kids - under the child signature only in gradual installments completed before each kid turned 18 (the parents were immigrants - came to the US with the clothes on their backs and no family, met and married here). It was discussed at the dinner table when I was a guest and I saw the statements. I had a checking account under my name only at 11. So did most of my friends (in the late 1960’s).

We were all in public high school. We all had cars, many of them new cars. I had a new ($3400?) Camaro for Xmas before I turned 16. Parents kept that in their name.

Were we spoiled? I don’t think so. Many of my friends had paper routes, thus the checking accounts. I worked a couple of different jobs and made $200/month. Real money then. We didn’t do anything to annoy our teachers because Every adult in our lives would have kick our behinds and taken away everything we loved.

I don’t have a problem with kids with cell phones. I have a problem with kids out of control. And schools that impede the teachers taking control of the classroom.

By teach overseas

July 14, 2006 04:11 PM | Link to this

Check out Amazed and find out why Georgia has problems finding teachers.

“I get whatever I want when I want it and no one will tell me what to do”

You sound like a spoiled two year old.

By Nja

July 14, 2006 04:15 PM | Link to this

Very good point, Amazed. Several teachers I know use their cell phones during the school day. I have seen them step into the hallway to use them. The bolder ones use it right in the classroom.

I agree that children don’t need cell phones at school. I agree for the most part children are safe at school. And yes, the schools have telephones. However, what about after school? What about the children who participate in other activities not necessarily in school but afterschool before going home? What about the children who walk to and from school? There is no getting around students bringing them to school if they need them afterschool. Like I stated before the problems lies with not having clear and consistent consequences.

By Sick & Tired

July 14, 2006 04:18 PM | Link to this

I hope the new charter school is a success story. I also hope they start out smart and only hire Motivated and Innovative “NEW” teachers.

The last thing they should do, is hire within.

If you’re going to insist on a NO CELL PHONE Policy, start with teachers, principals, etc….

By SET

July 14, 2006 04:19 PM | Link to this

Amazed:

Do you really believe you can dictate to a public school district that they have to let you and your kid keep a cell phone on her? Dream on.

Parents can’t even keep the schools from exposing the kids to politically correct ideaology. There are court cases on this now. They can even bring on social workers and ask the kids about your family life. (Have they ever seen you naked? What happened??)

They can go along with you because they have no standards and can be pushed around, or they can throw your note in the trash and snatch your kids cell phone. If you don’t like it you have to take the kid elsewhere. It’s their school not yours.

By Nja

July 14, 2006 04:19 PM | Link to this

Well said, Ra. I think a lot of people on this board lean towards the… WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL syndrome. I’m probably one of the younger posters on this blog and I know that schools have changed drastically since I was in school.

Good point about the rest of the working world vs. the school world.

By The Headmaster

July 14, 2006 04:25 PM | Link to this

Two comments:

1) Thomas, you are the MAN!

2) Amazed (Independent Woman), you are out of your ever-lovin’ MIND.

Carry on.

By SET

July 14, 2006 04:25 PM | Link to this

teach overseas:

Please avoid the Catty comments. We’re not supposed to indulge in personal insults and we need constant unfiltered input from people about what they are going through to see what happening.

Besides, I look forward to Amazed and want to hear more from her. All of us sometimes say something inartful that we’d change if we had more time to think before we hit post. Especially Me. If we get too beat up to write freely nobody will see what people are really thinking.

The greater the variance of the points of view the more we all think and learn from each other.

Where’s DB on the Cell Phone thing?

By jim d

July 14, 2006 04:32 PM | Link to this

Y’all feel free to raise your kids anyway you see fit. My child, however, will start as a junior this year with his cell phone.

So just get over it. He understands the schools policy re: cell phones and knows the consequence for failing to abide. I’ll do my part as a parent. Y’all just provide him an education.

By HB

July 14, 2006 04:36 PM | Link to this

I don’t think Amazed is being unreasonable. A cell phone is a good tool for helping to keep kids safe. She didn’t say her child should be able to use it anytime she wanted, only that she should be able to carry it, turned off, in her bag. If a kid walks to or from a home or a bus stop or attends off-campus afterschool activities, it’s reasonable for a parent to want a child to have that extra means of communication for safety reasons.

Instead of banning a harmless object completely, schools should regulate behavior. They should have strict “phones-off” policies that include during bus rides, recess, and lunch times, and enforce them. That way, not only will families be able to keep a tool they like, but kids will learn what times are appropriate for phone use and will be held responsible when they don’t adhere to the rules.

By jim d

July 14, 2006 04:41 PM | Link to this

Yeah Gwinnett teach, but I bet you lost on the free ticket, didn’t you?

By catlady

July 14, 2006 04:43 PM | Link to this

No problem with cell phones at our elementary school. Parents can call the office as needed, and children with clear need can call home.
I don’t mind the idea of “light only” cell phones if they are only used for calling during walk-to-class time. If they are out during instructional time, they are gone. Period. Any taken up should go to the office and should result in parents picking them up and giving a $50 deposit (per incident) to get them back. It is called responsible use. Parents and students would carefully evaluate the “need” for having them in use in a disruptive manner during the school day. Your child’s “right” to have a phone should not be above my child’s right to have uninterrupted instruction.

By EM

July 14, 2006 04:47 PM | Link to this

My my my. How times have changed! I simply say, ask each loving and devoted parent that sees fit to arm their little “darlings” with a cell phone….”How did THEY make it through twelve years of education without one?” To me, this argument is just down right ridiculous! I say, BAN THEM ALL and make the little “darlings” start LEARNING something for a change. And we wonder why our kids are falling behind the rest of world in education. It’s probably because we are letting THEM make the rules in the name of political correctness and so called safety. HOG WASH! We made it didnt we? And we got in trouble for passing notes! Now they want to text message and call folk and all this other nonsense in the name of “keeping up with the times” I say, WHAT~EVER! (use your teenage voice here) Get back to the basics and this type of discussion wont be necessary. Take back control!

By RA

July 14, 2006 04:54 PM | Link to this

I don’t think any parent who commutes 2 hours a day will think Amazed is unreasonable. I think, Teach Overseas, that if you do have children, its likely you and they keep nearly the same schedule.

Many teachers I know drive their children with them to school. Those who teach in other districts even have the privilige of transferring their children to the district where they teach. In fact, this is the reason that many of my female friends chose teaching as a career (and many at home mom’s return to school to get teaching credentials.) Its just easier to keep your kids close and safe when one parent is a teacher.

By RA

July 14, 2006 05:01 PM | Link to this

Yes, EM, “Time have changed.” Our parents had different working environments. Most of our mom’s were at home or working part time or in “pink collar” professions that allowed for motherhood. Most of our parents didn’t commute hours a day. Our schools were safer, our neighborhoods were safer, the world we lived in just a generation ago was very different today. Denying this doesn’t do a thing to help parents or teachers. We can’t find solutions until we talk, fairly, about the causes and terms of the problem.

Sarcasm isn’t helping the teachers who have to deal with rude kids texting and calling on their phones and it doesn’t help working parents keep their safe.

Maybe cell phone companies could create phone plans that just allow calling parents, school, and 911? I would buy that.

By Competitive

July 14, 2006 05:03 PM | Link to this

Here’s what I don’t understand, so please help me. I have quite a few students each day who come to school without paper, pencil, textbooks, homework assignments, reading books, etc. Often, those same students have a cell phone (along with a CD player or MP3 player) in class. Often, these students are struggling in my class. Here’s where I need the help. What STUPID A** reasoning is going through the brain of these parents who demand their kid have a cell phone, but won’t even provide them with basic ESSENTIAL school supplies. Not to mention many of these kids are taking my tax money to receive free lunch, bus service to school from 3 blocks away, scholarships to after-school academic programs, etc.

Here’s a proposal for all the parents out there who want to make their own rules for their spoiled kids at school. If you choose not to support the policies of the school, you lose all the money you receive from the taxpayers. Any takers? Good, then keep your damn cell phones out of my classroom (and bring paper and pencil).

By OldSchool

July 14, 2006 05:05 PM | Link to this

Amazed and others: of course your child can have a cell phone and of course you can continue to believe that the phone will stay safely tucked away in the bookbag. Of course you can believe your child will leave it right there and use it only to contact you at an appropriate time. And of course you can believe your child adheres to every rule you set for him/her.

Of course, his friends and teachers know better. And you can believe that too!

None of us know what our kids are really up to when they are out of our sight. We can only hope that they really do try to be good and obey the rules.

By SET

July 14, 2006 05:10 PM | Link to this

You know, what the kids are doing on the phone is texting all day. They don’t even have to hold the phones to their heads for that.

By Gwinnett Teacher

July 14, 2006 05:10 PM | Link to this

Competitive - AMEN!!!!!!!!!!

By Competitive

July 14, 2006 05:14 PM | Link to this

By the way, 2 hour commutes are a choice, not a requirement. If your so worried about the safety of your kid, then I have one question. What exactly are you planning to do when you do receive an emergency phone call from your kid and you are 2 hours away? Safety my foot.

Move somewhere closer to where you work, save gas, and make your kid safer all at the same time.

By Don Fazio

July 14, 2006 05:16 PM | Link to this

I think the best thing to do is to put cellphone jammers in the classrooms. If the parents need a child during school hours, they can call the office.

By SC Teacher

July 14, 2006 05:17 PM | Link to this

Up until two years ago, the State of SC forbid pages and cellphones on campus. [Supposedly, the law was passed at time when someone with a pager/cell phone would be only be an individual who would have drug connections.] The district I work for used to have to turn over all cellphones and pagers to the police department because of this law and the parents had to deal with the local cops in order to get the phone back. This solved most of the problem of phones in class—kids had them, but were terrified of taking them out.

Anyway, times have changed. This past year was the worst. The school dropped the penalty of ISS for a cellphone interruption and instead “requested” that students silence their phones. Very few were confiscated and it became a joke in the teacher’s lounge as to how many interruptions we had per period.

This coming year we have a new administrative team and we have been promised a change. Otherwise, how can we be expected to get through a class period without someone’s phone ringing?

Parents, please help us teachers out there! High school kids probably do need a cell phone—especially if they drive. However, it should be OFF during the school day. Consider it an airplane: doors open, phones on. Doors closed, phones off.

By CD

July 14, 2006 05:17 PM | Link to this

Wow Competitive…maybe you need another j-o-b…you are mighty hostile!

By Don Carlos

July 14, 2006 05:19 PM | Link to this

Just another reason to home-school or send your child to a private school.

By CD

July 14, 2006 05:19 PM | Link to this

Oh…and you too Gwinnett Teacher!

By jim d

July 14, 2006 05:24 PM | Link to this

See here’s the problem.

We have teachers that think they can do a better job raising our kids than we do.

Well butt heads—that is not what you are be payed to do. Just do your job,(teach) and if you catch my kid using his phone in class—take it away, I’ll support you. But if you want to raise him please feel free to pick up the bills. Otherwise just back off.

By SET

July 14, 2006 05:30 PM | Link to this

I’ve been telling some of my 2 hr commute friends that gas is heading past $4 a gallon and they need to get contingency plans. What are are doing now is dumping Ford & GM cars for Honda Civics.

For emergencies - everybody has in their cellphones - emergency numbers of other adults on the scene ranging from neighbors to relatives and friends, and parents of classmates.

I have close friends whose gasoline bill passed $900/mo a few months ago for 2 working parents and 1 car for the 2 kids. 3 cars, one parent works 5 miles from home. They paid $20k last year for tuition for Catholic HS for the 2 kids. The cellphone bill is out of control because they chose the wrong plan and can’t decide what to change to.

And we know the economy is probably going to get worse. I can get to work in 12 minutes during rush hr. I’m lucky. But I couldn’t buy the house I’m living in if I had to pay today’s prices.

By Gwinnett Teacher

July 14, 2006 05:35 PM | Link to this

CD - I am not hostile at all. I just agree with Competitive that some kids have $300 cellphones and are on free and reduced lunch! You don’t see anything wrong with that?

jim d - Please stop the name-calling. You are better than that. Nobody here (at least not that I have seen) has said anything about teachers trying to raise your kids. If you read my earlier post you’d see that I have 4 school-aged children all of whom have a cellphone that they take to school - everyday! But, they know that we will back the school policy 100% if they are caught using the phone during the school day.

By laf

July 14, 2006 05:37 PM | Link to this

She couldn’t figure out who took the picture but it was obvious the picture was made at school. Who ever uploaded the picture put a fictious name on it. The name was Hot H—-. Let your child get caught doing this to my child without her permission you will see how much a cell phone can really cost you. Don’t let a bunch of crazy kids enter a school with a cellphone that has a camera own it. Its too easy for kids to take pictures without being detected. This is why you are not allowed to carry your cell phone in the locker room at the spa that I attend.

By Vicki

July 14, 2006 05:38 PM | Link to this

I feel that cell phones can give parents a false sense of security.

My kids 10 and 8 are too young to have cell phones. I can see the 8 year old with his cell phone sitting in class and playing games or taking pictures, but not listening and learning. Maybe as they get older I might feel differently about this issue.

I have in-laws with 2 boys 11 and 9. So when the parents don’t want to go to the pool or the neighborhood playground, they send the kids blocks away from home with the cell phone that they can’t even use correctly. They end up calling me and asking me to call their parents. I’m 5 miles away and I let them know it is their responsibility to call their parents, not mine. (I always do call their parents.)

A false sense of security…?

By SET

July 14, 2006 06:02 PM | Link to this

Laf has an interesting wrinkle on the phone problem, imbedded cameras. One more reason to ban them in lower class schools. Maybe they are just too problematic there.

Remember in this country’s high school past (before me), we had gun training, gun clubs and guns in the pickup gun racks. Shootings were kept at an acceptable level. No more.

I grew up with woodshop classes where we had rows of table saws and band saws. I can’t imagine ever having such equipment in an urban school now. In my years of high school I don’t remember a single amputation or even an ambulance ever being called. Wood shop went on all day with 30 boys a class. Don’t know where the girls went, but they weren’t in wood shop.

Does anyone have a problem with one level of services and standards in White dominated High Schools and another lower level in Minority dominated schools? Is this what we are really discribing?

I don’t have a problem with schools ramping up the restrictions to suit it’s students. Too bad, so sad.

Brave New World.

By sTOOPId k!dz

July 14, 2006 06:04 PM | Link to this

Several thoughts:

It is against FCC federal regulations to operate any kind of cell phone jamming device. So, no, you can’t jam them.

No, it isn’t the Teacher’s job to make your child into a perfect social being. It is, however, the Teacher’s job to TEACH. HOWEVER, it is not possible to teach 30+ children in a room when every 2 minutes someone’s CHIRPCHIRP* Where U At? goes off. Your little “children” are interrupting MY child’s ability to learn.

Yes, it is your right to provide your children with cell phones, gold grillz, and overpowered SUVs, but is it smart? Many would doubt it.

But yes, assume then that you provide your child with a cell phone “for emergencies only”. How are YOU going to prevent them from using them in class? That is an improper activity, something that falls under the guideline of parenting skills, which apparently you don’t want the Teachers to perform in your absence. So, does this mean that you are going to drive 2 horus to school, confiscate the cell phone, and drive 2 hours back to work, then drive 2 hours more to pick them up when school is over? Wow, thats 8 hours of driving, just so you can preserve your rights to parent your children in the manner which you see fit. Sounds slightly counter-productive, dont you think?

Alternatively, why bother with the cell phone? Is it because you have to hear your children whine for their status symbol “But Chantal has one, and Tyronne, and Steve, and Wendy.. I want one TOO mommieeeeee!!!!!” - and you give in? Just as many adults have cell phones and use them daily, many adults have a drink after work, or on the weekends.. Imagine then if your darling little one came up and demanded that you provide them with a six pack of beer - because all the other kidd’ parents gave THEM beer. Its not necessary, but everyone has one, then by your logic would you then give them beer?

Obviously not. Lets not even get into the legality of it here, because were talking about parenting, not abiding the law. Just with common sense you wouldn’t give them something that would harm them physically (alcohol kills brain cells, don’t ya know), why then would you provide them with something that harms them educationally (they’re using cell phones in class, which means they’re not paying attention, which means they’re not learning)?

So they need to be able to call you, or you need to be able to call them… bulls**t. If it is an emergency, call the school office. If they forget their after school sports equipment, then they shouldn’t be able to go “Daddieee.. p-p-p-p-pleeeeease bring me my stuff!?!??!?” I mean what are you going to do, leave work? And, supposing you’re even able to bring them their stuff, that means either you are unemployed (how can you afford this cell phone then?) or you work close enough to the school that you can take off work for a few minutes (which punts the 2 hour drive time theory out the window) - but if you work so close, why again do they need the phone? You’re just around the corner!

Maybe, then, you need to be able to call them AFTER school because you work late and won’t be able to pick them up until 8pm. You need a leash for your children, I guess is what you are saying, which means they are animals, not properly parented… Any normal well educated (meaning they pay attention in class) smart individual, with an equally educated and smart set of parents, would either have a safe location to go to (after school care, home with a friend) or, if old enough, would be able to go home on their own via MARTA or with friends, etc. After all, if they go to a friend’s house, that house has a phone - they dont need a cell. And if they go to YOUR home, your home has a phone - again, they don’t need a cell. Can’t afford after shool care? How are you affording a cell phone plus minute usage? Then again, why are they running the streets until 8pm, where you need a cell to leash them, when they should be somewhere doing their gasp HOMEWORK?

I could go on for hours. “I’ll give my child a phone if I damn well please..” Then YOU come out to school and chapperone the little punks to make sure MY child can get whats left of a quality education in this city!

By School Cop

July 14, 2006 06:04 PM | Link to this

Gwinnett Teacher what you forget to mention is that most of those $300 cell phones end up being stolen (choose your own interpetation). Then of course we are supposed to spend way to much time trying to solve the mystery when it wouldn’t have happended if they had been left at home, in the car, or in the locker.

The biggest problem is that no one seems to respect other peoples property, authority or even themselves anymore.

Cellphones can serve a purpose even in a school when the rules are followed.

By Cobb Teacher

July 14, 2006 06:40 PM | Link to this

I don’t believe that elementary and high school students need cell phones. My children did not get theirs until they were in high school. I am also a middle school teacher. Two years ago, a cell phone went off during CRCT testing. It was the parent calling the child.

The average elementary and middle school child is not responsible enough to carry a cell phone to school. The temptation to play with it is too great for many.

I think that it is a shame that society feels that we must always be reachable. I didn’t grow up that way. Sure, I have a cell phone, but I don’t always answer it.

By luvs2teach

July 14, 2006 06:45 PM | Link to this

Neither my son (15) nor daughter(19), both rising sophomores (high school and college respectively) have cell phones. Nor are either of them getting them in the near future, unless they get a job and pay for them themselves.

I have a cell phone that stays off during the day, and on the rare ocasion I do use it at school, it is typically to call a parent when I can’t get in on the one phone line I share with 15 other teachers. Yes, there are some teachers who have them on at school - I’m not going to deny that. But many of them are parents of young children who may need to be reached in an emergency - if it’s good enough for your kids, then it should be good enough for those adults - not the reverse - we are too upside-down on that one in our country (equating children and their rights with adults and theirs - #1 problem, IMHO).

At parental requests (or demands) my county made it OK for students to have cell phones on before or after school hours only, specifically to address the “need to get in touch with” point. However, our kids (my 8th graders) rarely if ever adhere to this. And not just the problem children - I had to confiscate phones from my “good kids” too!

I’ve caught kids texting during tests, instead of taking notes, instead of working on a lab - you tell me if it’s a behavior problem with negative learning consequences!

Another point not raised yet, is with the issues of rumors. We had some rumors (and they were just that) of some negative stuff on campus - our kids called their folks with requests to be picked up - it was a logistical nightmare!

I would be fine with schools allowing ONLY emergency phone with preprogrammed numbers: home, mom, dad, grandma, 911. Then it truly addresses the NEED and not the WANT.

BTW - how did your parents get in touch with you in an emergency? And what did all of you do as little as 10 years ago? I know I didn’t have a cell phone 10 years ago, and my kids were fine.

By Nja

July 14, 2006 06:46 PM | Link to this

What does the cell phone issue have to do with a black high school or a white high school? Sheesh! Both black and white kids have and use cell phones in school.

The problem is there are no clear and consistent consequences. There are children who bring their phones to school but do not use them during the school day. So I don’t think that having the phone is necessarily the problem. It’s the children who blatantly disregard the rules and administrators who do not punish the offenders.

By Counting the days...

July 17, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this

For the most part, I keep my cell phone off during the school day as I actually have a job that mandates my full attention.

Do I bring it out occasionally? Sure. But it’s not to text a friend with “hi wats up?” that kids tend to do. During planning, I call parents instead of sharing 2 phone lines with 70 other teachers. (It bites having to spend planning waiting for the phone.)

On occasion, when little Johnny is being disruptive in class, I have pulled little Johnny out into the hallway, pulled out my cell, demanded that little Johnny call his parents NOW and that we settle this problem immediately. There is no waiting until after school for this or frivilous office referral. Instead, the problem is taken care of immediately…and the parent is always grateful that they know what is going on. Rarely is there a need for a second call home when I do that, as those particular kids usually settle themselves down nicely. For those children who don’t, I have a documented phone call that I can put on an office referral…and administration really can’t argue with that.

By Lisa B.

July 17, 2006 11:21 AM | Link to this

I teach elementary school, so few to zero students have cell phones. I love having my cell phone with me at school. I keep the ringer off. Like “Counting the Days…” I like being able to step quickly into the hall with a disruptive student and call the parents right away. My school only has two phone lines to be shared by 60 teachers. I also occassionally use my cell phone during planning to make appointments, etc. My son is in middle school, and has a cell phone. However, I don’t allow him to take it to school. I know where he is during the day. I do like for my son to have his cell phone with him when he and his friends are riding go-carts, playing in the woods, and going from house to house in the neighborhood. I think cell phones are like many other conveniences in life. They should be used appropriately, and not abused.

By SNY

July 17, 2006 12:24 PM | Link to this

Counting,

I think that using your cellphone to call parents in the hallway is remarkably generous. Even if you have a plan with unlimited daytime minutes, you are still using your personal equipment and money to contact a parent. And if you don’t have unlimited minutes then you are paying to make that call. You must really care about your students to make that kind of sacrifice. I think that 2 lines for 60 or 70 teachers is outrageous!!

On the subject of cellphones, my 8 year old is asking for one. I already told her that the answer is no and will be no for about the next 5 or 6 years. I take her everywhere she needs to be, including school. Her private school doesn’t have a bus so the parents have to drop off and pick up. No reason for a cellphone. She thinks I’m being mean, I think I’m being responsible. She’ll get over it.

By Nja

July 17, 2006 12:57 PM | Link to this

Wow. I guess the schools in which I have worked have had some luxuries. Every single room has a telephone including the teachers lounges. You cannot make outgoing calls on these phones unless you have a personal code. This prevents the students from using the telephones during the day.

By SNY

July 17, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

Nja,

Do you work in a public school?

By teach 1

July 17, 2006 01:30 PM | Link to this

Yes my HS daughter will be taking her cell phone to school. She knows the rules but knows the cell is for emergencies. Power outages, lock downs, and bus fights.. I want her to be able to contact me the moment her routine changes.

As for teachers and their cell phone use: We are NOT children! We are the adults. I have resposiblities that at times require a daytime contact. I am in the building before 7 am and often there until 5pm. I have no telephone in my classroom other than my cell. My lunch break is about 15 minutes and if a choose to talk instead of eat I can use my cell. I call parents on it to discuss their children. I take necessary personal calls -my daughter is sick at school and needs to be picked up. If you call the office to get in touch with me a note is placed in my mail box and I will not get that until after 3:00 So - since when does being a teacher mean we have to follow the same rules as our students? I am an adult with adult responsiblities. Just because I have a cell phone on my desk does not make me a bad teacher!

By Velatra

July 17, 2006 01:42 PM | Link to this

Nja,

You must be in a DeKalb Co. school. I think all of the DeKalb schools have phones in their rooms and must use a code to dial outside the school. It’s absolutely wonderful.

Personally, I don’t think that a student needs to have a phone unless he/she is at least 16 years old and driving. I can understand having a phone to report an emergency or if the car breaks down. Even then, the phone should be kept in the car for those purposes.

For those who feel that allowing their kids to just keep one in their bookbags, why would you subject your child to that kind of temptation? All it takes is for another child to spot the phone in the bookbag and ask to “see” it.

One other point is if your child is elementary or middle school age, shouldn’t he/she be under some type of supervision anyway? Even if your child goes home by him/herself, wouldn’t there be a phone at the house?

The purpose of banning cell phones and their use by students on school property is not to “dictate” to parents on what to do with their children. The purpose is to minimize potential distractions. Good grief, they already have enough with the behaviorally disruptive students.

By Belle

July 17, 2006 01:50 PM | Link to this

If younger children are asking for phones, and I do agree that they should have a way of quickly reaching the parent, they why not use the ones that only allow 4 pre-programmed numbers? My child is not old enough for school much less a phone however, my sister got one of these for her daughter. 4 buttons that is it!! No text messaging, no calling anyone other than parents and grandmothers.

It is an option to think about.

By SNY

July 17, 2006 02:43 PM | Link to this

Velatra,

My husband and I both have cell phones but we do not have a house phone. With the cell phone plans that we have, we have no reason to have a house phone. For us it would be just a waste of money. Someone with a phone is always at the house with the children. They are never left with a babysitter without a cellphone. It is actually pretty practical this way. For example, if they have to run out of the house because of a fire, the cellphone will be with them, not in the house.

My point being that not everyone has a house phone and it may not be for a negative reason.

By holdingAJC"accountable"

July 17, 2006 04:25 PM | Link to this

This is a little issue that becomes a big issues because of our schools’ systemic lack of support for discipline.

I know students who would never cause a problem with a cell phone, and it puts their parents’ minds at ease to know that they can get in touch with them.

THEY however are in the minority. Thus, there is no blanket rule that is going to work for every teacher and every student in every situation.

There IS a simple solution. A teacher makes a rule. A teachers clearly conveys a consequence. If the teacher has to invoke said consequence, the teacher is suppported one hundred percent.

That’s the “blanket rule” that needs to be in place, but unfortunately our school systems are populated by Neville Chamberlains (who often don’t even know who Neville Chamberlain is).

By SET

July 17, 2006 04:59 PM | Link to this

Patti:

The Cellphone blog was interesting. As a follow up, can you run a blog as to the reader’s experiences and opinions as to students having credit cards, checking accounts, and debit cards? How about a blog on teacher parking lot security - or conflicts between teachers and their cars and students and their cars and driving practices?

Holding AJC Accountable: Great point about schools backing teachers classroom rules. There are public schools that still do. I once worked for one.

By luvs2teach

July 17, 2006 05:22 PM | Link to this

A big part of the problem is temptation - giving a kid a cellphone is like giving a diabetic with a sweet tooth candy - it’s a HUGE temptation, no matter how severe the consequence. Some kids just can’t handle that.

Be honest out there (especially the women) - don’t you remember how much FUN (and seemingly critical) it was to talk to your friends on the phone for as long as your parents would let you? And I’m sure that more than one of you out there found a way to sneak more time in when possible.

Be honest, too, about writing notes - most of us did that at LEAST a time or two when we should’ve been more focused on our work.

All we’ve down with cell phones (and particularly those that text) is give our kids a more techo-friendly way to do what kids have done since time eternal- try to communicate without the adults getting in the way!

And to teach1 - your point “We are NOT children! We are the adults.” is EXACTLY what I was alluding to when I say we’ve turned the rules upside-down. Since when do I (or should I) have to explain why the rules are different for me? Adults and children are not the same - we don’t have the same responsibilities or rights - drinking age, voting age, driving age, signing a contract, joining the military, etc, etc, etc - I’m not talking about setting an example, or being a role model, I’m talking about general, day-to-day common sense.

That reminded me - during CRCT testing, I made a big show in my homeroom of shutting off MY phone and locking it in my closet - as both a reminder and an example - the kids were supposed to have their phones in their lockers. Well, sure enough, during the test, a phone rang - I had to confiscate it (and document the interuption to testing!). Turns out it was the student’s mom, calling to wish her good luck on the test!

By holdingAJC"accountable"

July 17, 2006 06:29 PM | Link to this

To SET: Hope springs eternal! Schools that have administrators who support teachers really exist? In Georgia? In metro Atlanta?

Actually there are probably many administrators who do…the problam is, is that those who do are the EXCEPTION and not the norm.

Question to Patti: Even with these discipline numbers, has an AJC reporter talked to a SINGLE school spokesperson, or education official who was willing to say “We need to do a better job supporting teachers with the consequences they give.”?

If they can’t admit THAT, then we don’t have “reform,” we have “facade”.

To Luvs2teach: Can’t fault a parent who cares about their child…but didn’t you just want to scream “Parents, PLEASE use a little common sense”?

By Velatra

July 17, 2006 06:39 PM | Link to this

Luvs2teach,

As a diabetic with a “sweet tooth”, you could not have come up with a better analogy. Dang, you didn’t have to call me out like that! ;-) Hahaha!

I agree with teach1, too. We are not children, and people, especially parents who want to cater to their children’s cell-phone whim in the name of so-called security and love, need to understand that children are NOT on the same level as adults. Period.

By luvs2teach

July 17, 2006 06:53 PM | Link to this

to “holding…” - I absolutely won’t fault a parent who cares about their child, but…it is possible to “kill” with kindness!

Sometimes caring means saying no. And sometimes caring means checking the phone bill to make sure no texting is done during school hours!

If only common sense were truly common!

By WFC

July 18, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this

The adolescent “cell phone players” will grow up to be the adults who play with the various electronic devices when they are supposed to be working. And then we’ll all wring our hands about how “nothing ever gets done and all the jobs are being outsourced to India.” Maybe we need to wake up!

By Nja

July 18, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this

Veltra & SNY

No. I do not work in Dekalb Schools, I’m across the border. But if you have any connections let me know :)

By Teacher2

July 18, 2006 09:55 AM | Link to this

Our students are allowed to have cellphones as long as they are not used in the building. If we teachers see a cellphone in use we confiscate it, label it, and turn it in to the office. The student cannot get the phone back until he completes a Saturday work program or spends several days after school doing custodial work. Of course we have had irate parents, but the current policy is more lenient than the policy we had a couple of years ago that stated the phone would not be returned until the end of the school year regardless of when it was confiscated.

By jim d

July 18, 2006 10:06 AM | Link to this

Teach II

Sounds like y’all have it under control.

By jim d

July 18, 2006 10:13 AM | Link to this

Veltra,

“children are NOT on the same level as adults.”

That’s a pretty general statement considering you don’t know every child or adult.Who’s kid you talking about here? And which adults?

I know kids that are a lot more responsible and with a much higher thought process than some of the adults I’ve met.

I guess what I’m saying is that some children can be responsible and that they should not be penalized for the actions of a few that aren’t.

By wwww

July 18, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this

I’ve been reading this blog topic for a few days now without commenting. But, I’ve finally been sucked in. Comparing a student’s right to have a cell phone versus a teacher’s is just plain silly. Teachers need cellphones at times, period. While there are many wonderful things about the profession, the one thing I would change is the lack of flexibility. I had health problems last year that REQUIRED me to take calls, on my cell phone, from the doctor’s office. They couldn’t leave a message and have me call them back - if anyone out there has tried playing phone tag with a doctor’s office, you know what I’m talking about. I had to actually have a conversation with the nurse, occasionally on a daily basis. It was incredibly inconvenient. I had to step into the hallway, keep an eye on my kids, all the while talking in code to my nurse as not to have a very private conversation where my students could hear me.
In this case, my health was the priority. I’m an adult with priorities - by the way, my administration was aware of the situation.

On the other hand, I have had PARENTS call their children during the day - and the phone rang during my class. I’m as understanding as I can be - to a point. If it is a true emergency, parents know they can call the office and their child will be called up there ASAP. These parents also know the phones should be turned OFF during the school day, and obviously know they are not doing so. By the way, one parent called to ask what her daughter wanted for dinner, and another called to ask if her boyfriend could take her to cheerleading camp after school. Hardly emergencies.

So yes, teachers and students have different standards for cell phone usage. I cannot believe this was even a thread.

By Velatra

July 18, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this

jim d

I didn’t think that I should have to explain what I meant, but for you, I will. I don’t care about the level of a child’s or an adult’s responsibility. Children are supposed to be subordinate to adults and should respect them because they are adults. Yes, there are millions of immature adults; however, I would never allow my children to disrespect them (i.e. calling them by their first names, responding to them with a “yeah” or a “naw”). The problem in this country is that too many parents allow their children to think that they ARE adults and do not have to respect them.

I know that this blog is about cell phone use, but with some of the attitudes here, we might as well encourage elementary and middle school children to engage in such activities as sex, drinking, driving, etc. because they might be “responsible” enough to not get pregnant or catch an STD, get drunk, or have an accident.

Do you get it now?

By SNY

July 18, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

What one person may deem an emergency may not be an emergency to someone else. Yes, parents can call the school office and get their child on the phone. But in a parent’s defense, maybe they were planning on leaving a message on the cellphone. I mean think about it, IF, big if, my daughter had a cellphone at school and I know that it is not suppose to be on, why would I call. Obviously it would be to leave her a message knowing that she wouldn’t or shouldn’t pick it up until lunch or after school. If a parent actually gets in touch with the child, then it is equally obvious that the child isn’t abiding by the rules. That’s when you take the phone.

By jim d

July 18, 2006 11:05 AM | Link to this

Oh my, Vel,

I understood, just don’t agree.

But using your example of age being the deciding factor—very few on this blog shouldn’t be giving me respect.

Personally I don’t expect it unless I earn it. I draw a very fine but distinct line between respect and courtesy.

Courtesy is given but respect is earned.

By jim d

July 18, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this

Just to clarify a couple of points.

Respect – to hold in high or special regard

Courtesy — consideration of others

And if you really think my child should be submissive to or controlled by someone just because of age—you got another think coming.

Do you get it now?

By wwww

July 18, 2006 11:50 AM | Link to this

SNY:

You are right, emergency is a word open to interpretation. It is possible the parent was calling to leave a message. That makes sense. However, I have had parents call repeatedly, in the same period, until that student answers the phone. How do I know this? I took the phone on the first ring and didn’t turn it off - only to find the caller id coming up “mom” THREE more times in 15 minutes. At that point, I thought maybe it is an emergency, and let the student call her mother from the hallway. That was the one calling to ask what she wanted for dinner. This same student told me her mother expressed a great deal of frustration at not being able to reach her right away, and was angered to know I had the phone at my desk. The mother felt that since she paid the bill, she did not have to abide by the school rules regarding cell phone usage. After meeting this mother, and others like her, I completely believe there is a serious disconnect between parents and children. Too often, we fault the child when we really should be faulting the parent. Interestingly, I had much more parental support/respect/understanding when I taught in a ethnically diverse Title I school south of Atlanta. I currently teach in a very wealthy area in the north metro and am considering returning to my old area.

From your comments, you do not appear to be the type of parent that would do something like this. Unfortunately, you are not who I am referring to. The rules are made for parents who are like this.

By Gwinnett Teacher

July 18, 2006 12:57 PM | Link to this

wwww, SNY, et.al. - But - the phone is supposed to be turned off during the school hours, so, if the student was following the rules, he/she wouldn’t know if Mom called 87 times!

These same kids will be the ones who don’t think that they have to follow anyone’s rules in the future as well.

By SNY

July 18, 2006 01:24 PM | Link to this

Gwinnett Teacher,

That was my point. The child could check the messages at lunch or directly after school. If the phone is on during class hours, then it should be taken.

wwww, trust me, from the parents that do care and want you to succeed, we’re sorry that you have to go through situations like that at all.

By luvs2teach

July 18, 2006 08:20 PM | Link to this

jim d - c’mon, you’re kidding, right?

You’re just trying to get folks riled up now, aren’t you?

I mean, you can’t seriously equate your child’s (or anyone else’s) rights and responsiblities with that of a typical adult in American society (I’m not talking about the idiotic exceptions - the Darwin Award Winners - to the rule, here).

We have turned the roles upside-down, and that is why so many parents have to buy books by John Rosemond and others like that. My personal kids will tell you that mom and dad come first, and their wants come second. They know that they are expected to respect ANY adult because they are adults - loss of respect may come later if the adult screws up, but until then…

IMHO, I have earned respect from the minute my students walk in my room, because I have done something they haven’t yet - I have passed the 8th grade! From that point on, it’s possible to lose respect, but I try my best not to do that.

My students have my respect in that I understand my role in parentis locos and that the county had hired and entrusted me to give them the best education possible - I don’t look to my students with the same respect I would give a member of my peer group, or someone above my status.

Did any of you read the article about the class that Gwinnett cops were giving kids on how to talk to cops? That’s because someone somewhere told these kids that they don’t need to respect them - do the cops need to earn respect?

So many professions have lost respect because of a few bad apples (cops that arrested Rodney King, Mary Kay Letourneau, bad doctors, bad politicians, etc, etc) - we’ve thrown the baby out with the bath water though in how we as a society look at things.

By Lee

July 18, 2006 08:58 PM | Link to this

The very fact that we are having a blog on this topic is a clear indicator that teachers have lost control of the classroom. Those teachers who have tried to impose discipline in the classroom seem to run headlong into Mr. HeaduphisassAdministrator.

The knee-jerk reaction is to “ban cell phones.” Go ahead. Kids will ignore that rule just like they ignore the no (weapons, drugs, fighting, talking, spitting, etc, etc) rules.

I just can’t imagine my teachers and principal from 30 years ago having this discussion….

By Teacher2

July 19, 2006 09:25 AM | Link to this

NYC schools have banned cellphones, but they are facing parental opposition due to safety concerns. Here is the link to the article. (May require free registration.) http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2006/07/12/42cell.h25.html?levelId=1000

By formerteacher

July 20, 2006 09:24 AM | Link to this

One of the big things is that admin just doesn’t support teachers and enforce rules. All it takes in so many of these discipline issues is some backup from your boss. One of the main reasons I didn’t stay in teaching was being undermined by admin who refused to have the necessary backbone when dealing with loud/wealthy/obnoxious/bullying parents. If you want to find a good school for your kids, ask the teachers if the administration supports them in discipline efforts. If not, keep looking, because the inmates will be running the asylum.