Teachers answering their cell phones during class

[tuckerkeys]

So I'm wondering if I'm just being a fuddy duddy or if this is the new norm.

My son's 1st grade teacher is taking calls on her cell while class is going on. From what he tells me it happens during lessons. It doesn't happen every day but it happens enough to where he knows her ring tone ( a Christmas song ).

I understand the importance of cell phones, I can't live without mine! However when I am at work, it is silent and I'll deal with any calls after work. If there truly is an emergency, those that need me know how to get me.

A teacher I am personal friends with in the school has told me that he does not use his phone during his class time or when any kids are present. He does use it on his breaks and such which I agree with.

So, am I being weird about this? Should I say anything b/c honestly i feel it is distracting.

 

[minkydog]

I've never been on any job where using your cell phone is okay. I would think that in a school the "no cell phone" rules would apply to everyone, not just students. At any rate, I don't care what the rules are, it doesn't make any sense that a 1st grade teacher is stopping her lessons to take a phone call. Methinks something should be said.

 

[agnes!]

Maybe ask to observe your DS' class & see what's going on for yourself - don't rely exclusively on the word of a 1st-grader. Or perhaps you could find a school employee manual and see if the issue is addressed in the stated rules? Classrooms have had telephones for years, so the phone ringing would not be the issue for me in this situation. The issues seems to be the disruptive ring-tone and if she's spending time on her phone having social chit-chats that interfere with her classroom duties.

She should (at the very least) put the thing on vibrate/silent mode so the Christmas ring-tone doesn't disrupt class instruction-time and keep her conversations to a minimum or on her breaks.

I wouldn't have the thing on at all during class-time if I were a teacher, but that's me. I wouldn't be paid to answer my personal phone, I would be paid to *teach*.
agnes!

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

I am in high school and my teachers talk on their phone occasionally and I know their ringtone too!
Some of them even text message. It annoys me that us students can't use our phones at all yet teachers can sit there and talk all day on them? It's a double standard to me.

 

[anniemae]

I don't know, it is a little odd, but maybe it is an important call she does not want to miss like say, a doctors office with test results, or her childs doctor. Sometimes if you miss a call like that it is impossible to get ahold of the other person. Or maybe she is going through a divorce and needs to straighten it out. You never know what is going on in someones life. It is hard to restrict calls like this to before and after work and lunch since most business are closed during those hours.

If it was just a "chatty" call with a friend then yes, I would not be happy with that at all.

If it really bothers you, I would pull her aside and chat privately with her.

 

[agnes!]

I am in high school and my teachers talk on their phone occasionally and I know their ringtone too!
Some of them even text message. It annoys me that us students can't use our phones at all yet teachers can sit there and talk all day on them? It's a double standard to me.

Really?!? Oh man, that truly *sucks*. It annoys me and I'm not even a student there!
agnes!

 

[mickeyboat]

My SIL is a teacher and does not generally keep her cell phone on during class time. However, her father has been pretty sick so she has it on and will answer during class if the call if from her dad, sisters or DH.

I wonder if there is something going on in this teacher's life where she needs to keep in touch with someone.

 

[MerMom60_94]

If a student had a cell phone on during class it would be confiscated -at least that is how it is at DD's high school. I realize these are first graders who likely don't have cell phones of their own but she should be a leader in adult behavior and what behaviors are expected down the road. Therefore, in the interest of leading by example, the teacher should not have her cell phone on during class. Even if she has a special situation at home, she could return the calls during her break.

 

[wenrob]

I think any job where your attention needs to be on other people the phone needs to stay off. (except for breaks) Can you imagine your waitress on her cell phone when you're out to eat? I get bent out of shape when the UPS guy knocks on my door and is on his cel. This teacher's attention should be 100% on those kids. Aside from a true emergency there is nothing that can't wait. I love my cel but I just don't get this need to be constantly connected. Why can't things wait for a few minutes if you're driving, out to dinner, teaching a class...

 

[disney1990]

I worked in an office where everybody had their cell phones on and answered them when they rang. So I don't know where to stand on this. I would hope that the teacher does not chit chat on the telephone, but only takes calls that she needs to take -- it is better to take them in class than to be constantly leaving the class if there is an issue.

 

[golfgal]

I am in high school and my teachers talk on their phone occasionally and I know their ringtone too!
Some of them even text message. It annoys me that us students can't use our phones at all yet teachers can sit there and talk all day on them? It's a double standard to me.

Teachers are not using their cell phones to cheat on tests though.

OP, your teacher may have taken A call and since the ringtone was a Christmas song your child recognized it and remembered it. I agree with others, don't jump to conclusions over what a 1st grader it telling you. Ask the right questions of your child first--"how many calls did the teacher take today" "is your teacher's child sick"

 

[Rora]

As a 3rd grade teacher, TELL THE PRINCIPLE! I'm usually all for having parent-teacher communication but this is not acceptable. You need to make sure that this is true and then I'd would make an appointment with the principle.

My cousin is a teacher and ALWAYS is texting on her phone, calling people during her recess when she's supposed to be supervising her students, etc. Parents called into complain and she got in trouble with the school and it nipped that in the butt.

OP- this is not ACCEPTABLE.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Really?!? Oh man, that truly *sucks*. It annoys me and I'm not even a student there!
agnes!

There are lots of rules that are different between students/teachers and children/adults.

eta: I don't think that teachers should be taking anything but emergency calls, though. Maybe she has just forgotten to turn it off.

 

[ProgressCity]

I don't think it's ok under any circumstances. No matter what job you have you're being paid to do a job, not talk on a cell phone. If it is a true emergency then people that know her could call the school and they could get the message to her or let her know that she has an urgent call.

Especially with that young of a class the teacher's attention needs to be wholly devoted to her students. She has breaks during which she can use her phone.

 

[stashbin]

My SIL is a teacher and does not generally keep her cell phone on during class time. However, her father has been pretty sick so she has it on and will answer during class if the call if from her dad, sisters or DH.

I wonder if there is something going on in this teacher's life where she needs to keep in touch with someone.

This makes sense. I can't see a teacher just chatting it up on the phone while the class sits there. If she has young children or a sick relative or is waiting on an important call, then she should have it on vibrate in her pocket and step into the hall to take the call.

 

[Duchie]

When my DD was in 4th grade, her teacher accidentally left her phone on one day. It rang during class and the kids started dancing to the ringtone while the teacher tried to shut it off. They all got a good chuckle out of it. So from that point on, she'd leave her phone on and if it ever rang, she gave them a "Dance Break".

 

[agnes!]

I am in high school and my teachers talk on their phone occasionally and I know their ringtone too!
Some of them even text message. It annoys me that us students can't use our phones at all yet teachers can sit there and talk all day on them? It's a double standard to me.

Really?!? Oh man, that truly *sucks*. It annoys me and I'm not even a student there!
agnes!

There are lots of rules that are different between students/teachers and children/adults.

eta: I don't think that teachers should be taking anything but emergency calls, though. Maybe she has just forgotten to turn it off.

I know that there are lots of differences with 'the rules", but I still think it sucks . In my opinion (barring some type of emergency situation like a sick family-member etc.), teachers using their personal cell-phones during class-time are indicating by example to their students that they are not invested in *teaching*, they are invested in communicating with someone else. I think it's disrespectful of the adult/teacher towards the children/students who are actually there to learn, not there to listen to a one-way conversation or the clickety-clack of texting.
Teachers might even be allowed by Hollywoodhaha's school rules to use cell-phones during class-time but I still wouldn't think that makes it *right*.

agnes!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

My sister and I are both teachers. I do leave my phone on during the day but unless I forget it is on silent. DS will send me a text when he leaves school (new driver and gets out before me). I do not answer it but know when it vibrates that he is on the road.

My sister has cancer. She is still working full time and trying to be sure she gets all the Dr information she needs. She will occasionally pick up the phone if it is her oncologist. That is way better than her staying home from work just to wait for the call. She and her principal agree. She takes the call and info as quickly as possible and then back to work.

I am just saying there may be information that you do not know. i agree no way should a teacher be "chatting" on the phone during class. But for many of us our only break is at lunch and most Dr offices are closed between 12 and 1.

I do not think teachers and the students need to "have the same rules". We are not children but adults. It is different to be a professional employee in a school than to be a student at the school.

 

[Boxley]

As a 3rd grade teacher, TELL THE PRINCIPLE! I'm usually all for having parent-teacher communication but this is not acceptable. You need to make sure that this is true and then I'd would make an appointment with the principle.

My cousin is a teacher and ALWAYS is texting on her phone, calling people during her recess when she's supposed to be supervising her students, etc. Parents called into complain and she got in trouble with the school and it nipped that in the butt.

OP- this is not ACCEPTABLE.

I will slightly disagree here, while I believe that teachers should not text nor call during classes, I think there are some exceptions, such as the teacher needs to be in touch with a sick relative or the hospital, or something to that effect.

P.S. I may not be a fancy third grade teacher, but isn't one of the principles of being a teacher is to know your principal , I would nip in the bud right now.

 

[lewdyan1]

I know some teachers use them in my kids middle and high schools. One in particular calls other teachers to get their lunch order and then orders lunch during 3rd period.