Cell phones and grades!

[stashbin]

I am a teacher and I have noticed a downward spiral ever since texting has taken over students' brains! When the students are supposed to be paying attention while I am teaching my heart out, I will look out at them and see them with their hands in their pockets, texting away!!! How are they supposed to be learning when they are texting the entire time? I really feel that some kind of sanctions need to be placed on the cell phone industry or that parents need to disconnect texting during school hours. I think a lot of kids' grades would increase dramatically if they were paying attention and not texting someone from another class.....or their PARENTS!!!
Any thoughts?

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

I am a teacher and I have noticed a downward spiral ever since texting has taken over students' brains! When the students are supposed to be paying attention while I am teaching my heart out, I will look out at them and see them with their hands in their pockets, texting away!!! How are they supposed to be learning when they are texting the entire time? I really feel that some kind of sanctions need to be placed on the cell phone industry or that parents need to disconnect texting during school hours. I think a lot of kids' grades would increase dramatically if they were paying attention and not texting someone from another class.....or their PARENTS!!!
Any thoughts?

Does your school not have rules on cell phones during class? If our kids are caught texting, even in their pockets, their phones are taken away and not returned till the end of the year, no matter how much the parents gripe.

Why don't you just take their phones away or institute some discipline in your classroom? Don't want to be snarky or anything, but if all the students in your classroom are constantly texting, it sounds like you have lost control.

I personally would not approve of sanctions on the cellphone industry.

BTW - all my children had unlimited texting and all have or have had a 4.0+ GPA.

 

[elgerber]

Does your school not have rules on cell phones during class? If our kids are caught texting, even in their pockets, their phones are taken away and not returned till the end of the year, no matter how much the parents gripe.

Why don't you just take their phones away or institute some discipline in your classroom? Don't want to be snarky or anything, but if all the students in your classroom are constantly texting, it sounds like you have lost control.

I personally would not approve of sanctions on the cellphone industry.

BTW - all my children had unlimited texting and all have or have had a 4.0+ GPA.

Yep, here too, excellent grades and unlimited texting. Also phones are supposed to be banned in classrooms.

Sanctions on the industry? This is not their fault.

My kids would never dream of texing in class. Heck, my kids won't even take their phones to school because they don't want to get in trouble.

Schools and parents both need to set firm rules.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Does your school not have rules on cell phones during class? If our kids are caught texting, even in their pockets, their phones are taken away and not returned till the end of the year, no matter how much the parents gripe.

That sounds illegal. I would notify police. I am quite sure I would get the phone back. There is no legal basis for taking away a phone like that.

That said, when my kids get a cell phone they will know exactly what it will be used for AND there will be no texting minutes on the plan. In fact, if possible - and I don't know that it is - I will have texting disabled.

 

[Becky2005]

In our school, they DO have consequences for such things.

They are to have the cell phones off during the school day -- here are the consquences that they receive if they don't (unless of course, they have permission):

1st Offense: One (1) hour detention. Confiscation of the item.
2nd Offense: One (1) hour Saturday School. Confiscation of the item.
3rd Offense: Three (3) hour Saturday School. Confiscation of the item
and held for parent/guardian to pick up.
Additional offenses: One (1) day In-School Suspension and held for
parent/guardian pick up.

AND they don't care if it's the parents texting the kids!!! They addressed this BIG TIME in the Freshman orientation as parents would say "but it was ME texting them about xyz" and doesn't matter they would still get the punishment as they are to have the phones OFF during class.

 

[mhsjax]

That sounds illegal. I would notify police. I am quite sure I would get the phone back. There is no legal basis for taking away a phone like that.

That said, when my kids get a cell phone they will know exactly what it will be used for AND there will be no texting minutes on the plan. In fact, if possible - and I don't know that it is - I will have texting disabled.

where I live in Florida the schools are not allowed to prohibit phones at school, however, the school does a rule that they must be turned off. It they are caught testing or phoning then the phone will be taken away and only given back when the parents come to get it. A lot of kids have these phones in my area because one of our schools(not the one we are currently in) would not notify parents when their child was sick, so the kids had to take it upon themselves to call parents in between classes.

 

[Papa Deuce]

In our school, they DO have consequences for such things.

They are to have the cell phones off during the school day -- here are the consquences that they receive if they don't (unless of course, they have permission):

1st Offense: One (1) hour detention. Confiscation of the item.
2nd Offense: One (1) hour Saturday School. Confiscation of the item.
3rd Offense: Three (3) hour Saturday School. Confiscation of the item
and held for parent/guardian to pick up.
Additional offenses: One (1) day In-School Suspension and held for
parent/guardian pick up.

AND they don't care if it's the parents texting the kids!!! They addressed this BIG TIME in the Freshman orientation as parents would say "but it was ME texting them about xyz" and doesn't matter they would still get the punishment as they are to have the phones OFF during class.

See, THAT makes sense. You can't "steal" a kid's phone for a school year....

 

[Camicar]

My dd has unlimited texting and is an A student, so I don't see the causal relationship.

If you catch a kid texting, can't you take the phone away for your class period? Can't you require that all phones be put on your desk during your period?

And put sanctions on the phone industry? That's like sanctioning the auto industry bec people drive like fools and get in accidents.

 

[mjkacmom]

At dd's school, they have to be turned off, and if you get caught using it, it goes to the office, and you get detention. I once texted dd right at the bell (I had assumed her phone was turned off), and she got in trouble! Oh, and she got high honors on her report card (7th grade, honors classes).

 

[disykat]

In defense of the teacher here - it is very hard to make a punishment stick for something that you haven't seen. If they are texting in their pockets all they have to say is "no I wasn't."

In general, the kids who would have the nerve to do something that obnoxious are the same kids whose parents would be at the school screaming that we have no proof their child did anything and how dare we even attempt to punish them for something that can't be proven.

 

[Talking Hands]

That sounds illegal. I would notify police. I am quite sure I would get the phone back. There is no legal basis for taking away a phone like that.

Not illegal at all. School rules are No cell phones during school hours. Teachers can confiscate and give to the principal in charge of discipline and it is up to him/her whether to return or keep the phone until the end of the year. First offense it would probably be returned to the parent but multiple offenses would have it confiscated for the rest of the school year as the parent failed to discipline the student and set down firm rules for cell phone use including no use of the cell phone during school hours.
Cell phones are a constant problem in the middle and high schools. If students can't follow the rules then they face the consequences.

 

[Hoodie]

That sounds illegal. I would notify police. I am quite sure I would get the phone back. There is no legal basis for taking away a phone like that.

That said, when my kids get a cell phone they will know exactly what it will be used for AND there will be no texting minutes on the plan. In fact, if possible - and I don't know that it is - I will have texting disabled.

If your kids were caught texting in class would you still call the cops to get the phone back?

I wouldn't. Frankly, part of the problem is parents siding with the kids vs. the school and teachers that are trying to enforce existing policies.

 

[tasha99]

Not illegal at all. School rules are No cell phones during school hours. Teachers can confiscate and give to the principal in charge of discipline and it is up to him/her whether to return or keep the phone until the end of the year. First offense it would probably be returned to the parent but multiple offenses would have it confiscated for the rest of the school year as the parent failed to discipline the student and set down firm rules for cell phone use including no use of the cell phone during school hours.
Cell phones are a constant problem in the middle and high schools. If students can't follow the rules then they face the consequences.

It's not illegal until it's tested. I think the first parent who took the school to court would win the phone back. The school could then say the child isn't allowed to come back, but there's no way they could keep the phone

 

[NotUrsula]

At the beginning of class I'd ask them all to take their phones out and put them on their desks where you can see them, turned OFF. That way there is no sneaking in the pocket, etc., and you can walk down the rows to be sure that the phone is powered off. (Blank screen)

After that, if the student claims not to have a phone but seems to be acting suspiciously, I'd check with the parents to find out whether or not the child does indeed have one, and if he does, out on the desk it goes.

My ultimate preference would be for technology that allows teachers to flip a switch to jam cell phone signals in the classroom on demand. I know of some universities that have equipped their classrooms with these to stop cheating. You could always buy one yourself if your school allows them; one strong enough for a classroom costs about $300.

 

[Papa Deuce]

If your kids were caught texting in class would you still call the cops to get the phone back?

I wouldn't. Frankly, part of the problem is parents siding with the kids vs. the school and teachers that are trying to enforce existing policies.

Absolutely. And I am not condoning texting in school at all. But phones are needed for emergencies as well as casual use. What if my daughters were in terrible trouble and couldn't call because the school took their phones?

If you read my posts you can see I am 100% against texting, but that doesn't mean my kids phones can be taken away for an entire school year. Yes, I would call the police, and I have NO DOUBT that by law the school would have to give it back.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Not illegal at all. School rules are No cell phones during school hours. Teachers can confiscate and give to the principal in charge of discipline and it is up to him/her whether to return or keep the phone until the end of the year. First offense it would probably be returned to the parent but multiple offenses would have it confiscated for the rest of the school year as the parent failed to discipline the student and set down firm rules for cell phone use including no use of the cell phone during school hours.
Cell phones are a constant problem in the middle and high schools. If students can't follow the rules then they face the consequences.

School rules do not supercede law.

 

[RitaE]

I'm also wondering why you don't confiscate the phones if you see students texting during your class? At the very least, you could make the child walk the phone up to your desk and place it there until it is time to leave your classroom.
My child's school also allows any teacher or staff member to confiscate a cell phone and turn it into the office. At that point, it is a matter for the Principal or Vice Principal to work out with the parent its pick up.

I'm sorry, disciplining students for infractions and requiring conferences with the parents I can see. However, classroom discipline and control is your responsibility - with backup from parents and your administration. It is not the responsibility of the cell phone industry.

 

[Becky2005]

At the beginning of class I'd ask them all to take their phones out and put them on their desks where you can see them, turned OFF. That way there is no sneaking in the pocket, etc., and you can walk down the rows to be sure that the phone is powered off. (Blank screen)

After that, if the student claims not to have a phone but seems to be acting suspiciously, I'd check with the parents to find out whether or not the child does indeed have one, and if he does, out on the desk it goes.

That would sort of work unless you have one like my DD & I have. There is NO screen unless the phone is flipped open. I don't even think they make such basic phones now. As far as I know DD just keeps hers in her backpack which is in her locker as they can't carry backpacks around either.

 

[Becky2005]

I'm also wondering why you don't confiscate the phones if you see students texting during your class?

Oh I just read that and wonder -- are you allowed to read the messages outloud like they would used to do if you got caught passing a note?

Just confiscate the phone, look at the text and if it wasn't really incriminating to any person or vulgar, read it outloud to the entire class.

That probably isn't allowed anymore though I would suspect but that's the image that popped into my head when I read this.

 

[Talking Hands]

School rules do not supercede law.

I have not seen a law on the books that says it is the right of a student to have a cell phone in school. Or one that says the school must return the item it confiscates until the end of the school year. Show me it.
Many items get confiscated and are not returned until a parent picks them up at the end of the year.