General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWould it be legal if a teacher had a basket on his/her desk
and demanded that kids turn off their phones and place them in the basket during class?
It seems to me that this would be a better plan, and might be accepted by kids as well, since the phones would be given back when class was over.
I can understand that a phone might be necessary in case of an emergency, but do students have the right to walk around totally oblivious to the purpose of school??
jeff47
(26,549 posts)In the district where my sister teaches, the kids are allowed to have their phone but only if they use it to further an educational purpose. For example, googling something or looking at a homework assignment.
She has a box labeled "iJail". If she catches a kid using their phone for any other purpose, it goes in the box until after class.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)they never seemed to have pencils to take notes or what ever, loose paper he felt was something he had to give them, so he paid for it, since the school was very bad on supplies.
He would return it when they gave the pencil back.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)but as mentioned above, might run afoul of district policy.
sharp_stick
(14,400 posts)uses a cell phone storage thing as an attendance marker.
SoCalDem
(103,856 posts)alphafemale
(18,497 posts)Then it is not glaringly obvious who has a cheaper/older vs newer/more expensive phone.
Fla_Democrat
(2,547 posts)valerief
(53,235 posts)They just don't work in the classroom.
Igel
(35,383 posts)Used in other countries in places like restaurants or movie theatres, and posted. But here it's a federal offense (at least 3 years ago).
valerief
(53,235 posts)NYC Liberal
(20,138 posts)valerief
(53,235 posts)are for?
NYC Liberal
(20,138 posts)to have a shoot out, no doubt.
jmowreader
(50,580 posts)There are plenty of mobile-enabled websites the kids are using to look up answers to test questions. Go to the Science categories on WikiAnswers and you'll see plenty of "which of the five elements in Table A weighs x grams per mole?" questions. Take away Junior's phone and he might actually have to learn something.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)Better make sure they don't socialize at all, then; that's what they're doing on those phones.
SoCalDem
(103,856 posts)This cell phone addiction thing is getting out of hand..
mcar
(42,439 posts)Township75
(3,535 posts)Bucky
(54,087 posts)It's a losing battle, of course. That's time I could spend grading or planning instead. The job is definitely getting harder.
Bucky
(54,087 posts)There's actually some on-line stuff that you can do to get kids engaged by using their cell phones. It's substandard education, but we're trying to hold back a flood of stupid these days. Any gimmick that works is welcome.