Schools taking cell phones

My school's policy is "Not seen, not heard, not taken away"
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My school was the same way and we didn't often have problems. On the rare occasion that someones phone went off in class (rare) the teachers were usually pretty cool about it by giving a firm but humorous rebuke.

In college here I always turn my phone off or set it to vibrate when in class and most people I know do the same.

Well of course the cell phone itself is not the problem, but kids use their cell phones in class to pass notes rather than actually physically passing the notes. There lies the problem. Plus cell phones going off in class, but mainly it's the text messaging.
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It seems that this might be an issue of treating the symptoms rather than the cause which is, inevitably, boredom. If it isn't a phone it's paper notes, calculator games or something else. The battle for students attention can't be won by fighting these symptoms. You must address the cause and then the symptoms will vanish.

Since by your own description it doesn't appear that the activity disturbs the class as a whole in any real way (such as audible ringing interruping a lecture) the students who fail to pay attention will inevitably face the consequences of their actions. I see no reason to militantly fight this; You have to pick and choose your battles. Choices can't be made for others but you can prevent the choices of a few students from negatively influencing the others. That's the best you can get from strict authoritarianism (not using the word in a demeaning way here).

I do agree that the girl who chose the phone over lunch made her own stupid mistake but as for the general principle of charging students? Sounds dubious. I'd definitely want to know where that money was going and there is nothing wrong with that. All money spent by the school should legally be open to anyone at any time, upon request.

EDIT: All *records* of money spent by the school should be open. Obviously not the money itself. :)
 
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I'm not surprised at all by the responses in this thread. A lot of them seem a little hypocritical to be honest. When I was in high school, I personally never gave a teacher or any sort of administration my cell phone. I wasn't a "rebel", nor did I try to be. I stood up for what I believed in and knew exactly what would happen if they took it away. They would go through my text messages, contacts and pictures - now, I have nothing to hide, but going through someone's personal files is just plain ridiculous.

I don't care who says that students have no privacy, I'm pretty sure once you hit 17 and 18 you should have control over your belongings. Cell phones CAN be dangerous in schools for violent purposes, but as a class disruption? I don't believe I've ever seen that to be a problem - at least when I was in school. My phone went off during an exam and the teacher just thought it was amusing.

The point I'm trying to make is, that if people actually care to make a stand against this rule - then do it. Don't hand your cell phones over and accept the suspension. It at max will be two days if you're not defiant. Despite the myth, "suspensions" don't look bad on your record. It will NOT affect your getting into university or college.

Take note, I'm not a "rebel" so to speak, but I will stand up for myself when I see fit. I advise others to do the same.

-Kegan

EDIT: By accepting the suspension, you not only are telling the administration that they have no right to go through your personal files, you're saving $15 in this case. To each his/her own though.
 
EDIT: By accepting the suspension, you not only are telling the administration that they have no right to go through your personal files, you're saving $15 in this case. To each his/her own though.
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:evil:


I was talking to my brother who is in college about this issue (he goes to UT now and went to the same highschool as me). He said in college people listen to their iPods during the lectures and browse the internet on their laptops during class. If they don't want to pay attention, that is their decision (although it's pretty pointless to pay for college education and not pay any attention).

Should I get my principal to sign a release form prior to shooting the interview? BTW, I plan on telling her what I will be asking her about prior, so that she doesn't think I'm pulling a Michael Moore and trying to embarass her.

Edit: I did not mean to sound like I was informing anybody on what goes on at college, if I came across that way.
 
A lot of them seem a little hypocritical to be honest.
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Ok, if you're going to make accusations at least point to someone and explain your case! :D

They would go through my text messages, contacts and pictures - now, I have nothing to hide, but going through someone's personal files is just plain ridiculous.
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That's definitely going way too far in my opinion though I never felt that was ever going to be something that happened at my school if, in the rarest of circumstances, a phone was taken. Maybe I was lucky? :)
 
Hunter007 said:
The point I'm trying to make is, that if people actually care to make a stand against this rule - then do it. Don't hand your cell phones over and accept the suspension. It at max will be two days if you're not defiant.
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We have to distinguish between fighting for a right and fighting for a privilege. Cell phone in school is a privilege. It's important that people don't misunderstand your point and think that they're being a hero by fighting against "the system." I agree that the $15 rule is excessive but it's a bad idea to refuse to hand over the phone, because then you're in hot water not only for the phone, but for insurbornation, and that just cause unnecessary grief not just for yourself but for your parents. If you have a problem with it, circulate a petition, bring it up at the PTA meeting, get the parents to come talk to the school, do it the right way. You're not exactly fighting for civil rights here, don't try to be a martyr.
 
eignacio said:
Is this your principal?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hut3VRL5XRE
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I've seen that before. I've taught like that. I came very close to doing many things like that, but never did. I love that video! LMFAO! I love that teacher! I'd love to know who he is so I could buy him a beer or 12. That's great!

Unless you speed a year with a class of kids, you have no idea what a crapy job teaching is. But, you do it cause you love it. Most of those students will make more than that teacher eventually. But they could never have gotten those jobs without that teacher. So, do teachers really diserve to be paid less than garbage collectors...

I know I sure didn't last in a classroom very long! You couldn't pay me enough to do that a second time!
 
my non linear editing professor says

"if you answer a call in my class, you get the phone taken away for the whole semester, and my kids will take it apart, toy with it, and put it back together cause they know how to very well."

"if you make a call in my class, i take the phone away and smash it into a million tiny pieces in front of your eyes."

i've seen him do both of those.
 
bballplaya283 said:
He said in college people listen to their iPods during the lectures and browse the internet on their laptops during class. If they don't want to pay attention, that is their decision (although it's pretty pointless to pay for college education and not pay any attention).
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That really does happen in college. Its a whole different world there. There is no more hand holding like in high school. You're considered an adult so you can do what you want but you also face the consequences. If you want to not pay attention, that's fine but you won't last long. If your grades drop, you just get kicked out. Its like survival of the fittest. Thats why they say 2 out of 3 college freshmans will drop out.
 
In my high school. It all depends on our teachers. If we have a cool teacher...he/she will be cool about the phones..but if it becomes a distraction, they tell you to put it away and not take it out again. If the student takes it out again..they take the cell phone..and you have to report to your Dean.

My school has three Deans..and they're all very scary people. If you go in there to get your cell phone back..its like dancing with the devil..you might feel the wrath...or you'll be let off with a warning.


Happened to me once..but my dean likes me..so she let me off easy. :)
 
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