How many pages of Dickens, Faulkner, Twain, or Steinbeck (fill in author preference)...

[kid a]

could have been read in the cumulative time it takes to send and receive 4000 text messages.

or poems written, paintings made, gadgets tinkered with, melodies created, lyrics composed, day-dreams dreamt?

4000 texts per month.

That was the average amount of texts sent and received for over half of my seniors (about 60 high school kids, 17 and 18 yrs old).

The mantra "the technology is here, let's embrace it" is making its way around high school administrations and more and more high schools are easing their ipod & cell phone usage policies. In our school, electronic devices are permitted anywhere and everywhere as long as they are OFF "between the bells".

While that has drastically eased the discipline procedures in the halls, fewer kids come into class early to chat with me about homework, books, art, music, etc. And if they do get there early, their fingers are moving rapidly on their iphone to get that last message sent before the bell.

I thought it was a bad idea to change from the earlier policy of OFF between 7am and 3pm. We've embraced it, now we need to engage, manage and empower its use to drive curriculum, creativity, and lessons of moderation.

If you have kids in school, what are the policies there?

[jobycom]

1. Could have or would have?

I'm somehow doubting that seniors would be reading Bleak House in the hallways if they were banned from texting between classes.

Then again, maybe you could start something. Get a signup sheet and text Shakespearean sonnets between classes. Or favorite book quotes. Or literary scavenger hunts. Form a high tech Dead Poet's Society. Who knows, maybe you'll start something new.

[REP]

2. Sigh. I'm an old fart who reads and types fast

I read 2 books yesterday and 3 long book reviews today, and sent at least 20 txts per day. And I'm 44. Some kids will never be readers, but nothing will ever stop the ones who are.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. It's still a new toy -

there will be something else, and texting will be obsolete.

As for writing and reading, kids who want to will write and read. That's something that cannot be replaced. The kids who are caught up in the latest craze, well, they will find their places and recognize their gifts, and nothing will stop them...................

[LeftyMom]

4. One sentance at a time in little snippets? None, really.

Not if one expected to follow the story, let alone appreciate the use of language and rhythm of the writing.

Sending a text message in between classes is a teeny bit different than reading a few pages of the Grapes of Wrath and then discussing Steinbeck's use of biblical allegory in Tom's story arc.

[rug]

5. Congratulations on 4500 posts!

[jobycom]

6. ..

:spray: