Commenters on the AJC Get Schooled blog discussed the growing trend of students pulling out their smart phones to record fights at school and sharing them online. The AJC reported an Instagram page devoted to Clayton County student brawls had nearly 400 fight videos and more than 30,000 followers. The page was taken down after the AJC wrote about it. Here is a sampling of reader comments:
Taylor: I have second-graders in my class with smart phones. It's ridiculous. My son, who is 13, hardly ever takes his phone to school since he doesn't want to lose it. Sadly, we won't ever be able to ban the phones, but expelling the offenders who do the fighting and the ones who record it might help.
NorthGa: This is easy. 1) Cell phones on campus must remain in lockers from morning to afternoon … not carried in classes or the cafeteria or anywhere else on campus. 2) Simple, cheap, directional jamming technology can make the entire campus a "dark zone" with no cell phone or Internet connectivity. Official school computers and phones can be connected to the outside world via monitored hardlines. 3) While we're at it … classes should be separated into male and female classes, and all students should be restricted to a simple dress code.
Belinda: Why does a child in elementary or middle school even need a cell phone? All I ever hear is the emergency excuse. Suck it up, parents, and say no. I think it's because some parents create their own emergencies with poor planning.
Double: Is it any wonder why we have difficulty recruiting the "best and brightest" to become teachers? This problem is but the tip of the iceberg with our schools and society. And this problem now extends to our colleges and universities. I certainly don't have an answer and suspect no one else does either.
Noticer: So the positive behavior reinforcement of the past 15 years has not worked. Can we go back to actual punishments now? Restitution? Many students lack self-discipline, leading to so many problems and issues. We need punishment and rewards to mold students and give them self-respect. This is a solvable problem. Many of these children can be guided to a better life. Teachers need support, and it is just not a matter of helping "those" people. I like to think we can still save our society, and sincerely hope we are not past the tipping point of reining in undesirable behavior. Who is going to hire these losers? Would you? It is past time to get real about student behavior.
Mom: The "selfie" movement continues to grow. The need to "go viral" is strong, even among adults; it is their five minutes of fame. The comments that accompany the videos are equally depressing. I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I cringe when I see a parent posting a video of them forcing their child to destroy their X-Box because of failing grades, or stand on the corner with a sign proclaiming they are a bully. While I don't question the need to discipline the child, I question the parent's need to publicize the punishment.
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