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Post by katieanna on May 28, 2015 13:45:53 GMT
I work for a health education center. One of the educators told me that a teacher friend of his had subbed for a number of years and then decided to go into full-time teaching. The teacher friend acquired a job in one of the schools located in Harrisburg PA (teaching MS, I think, but am not 100% sure about that). One of the "rules" listed in the handbook stated that students are allowed to carry ipods/iphones to class  Rarely did he teach a full-sized class. Out of 35 students, it wasn't unusual for only 8 students to show up. Each one of them walked into class with ear buds in their ears. When one of the students misbehaved (I don't know exactly what he did), the teacher confiscated the student's ipod or phone and told him to go to the principal's office. The student walked up to the teacher's desk, shoved papers, etc. off the desk, lifted the teacher's computer off the desk and dropped it on the floor and then left the classroom. Later, the principal told the teacher that he had been "too hard" on the student. Really?  If these students are allowed to show up at class whenever they feel like it, listen to their ipods and play with their phones during class....then how are they supposed to learn? Teachers...please tell me that this isn't the norm in our schools - and/or that it isn't becoming the norm... We spend so much on education. I can't understand why administrators would allow such foolishness. |
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Post by moveablefeast on May 28, 2015 13:55:08 GMT
There's got to be context missing. Is this a special ed classroom? An alternative school? A school in a severely disadvantaged area?
Of course this is not the norm.
Something else is going on here.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on May 28, 2015 13:57:52 GMT
I'm not a teacher, but my jaw just dropped reading that.
That's insane behavior.
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Post by bc2ca on May 28, 2015 14:02:32 GMT
Not a teacher, but at DS's high school the teacher's regularly expect students to use their smart phones in class. They are NOT allowed ear buds though.
When at MS, phones had to be turned off and in your backpack. Phones that interrupted class were taken to the office. First offense, student could retrieve at the end of the day. Second offense, parents called but student could take it home. Third offense, parent called and had to come in to the school to retrieve it.
I've never heard of anything close to what you described happening in a classroom here.
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Deleted
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Oct 7, 2024 13:33:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 14:03:36 GMT
I agree that much is missing from the story.
With that said, our school district embraces technology. When my 2 college aged girls were in school, they were one of the last ones to get a smart phone. Teachers allowed students to use their technology in class for assignments and often, my kids were left in the dark because I was too cheap to pay for data for smart phones for kids. Hell...in high school many kids used to carry laptops and use those in class although that's probably now changed to tablets.
It wasn't until my eldest started college that we got smart phones with data. (she'll be starting her senior year of college in August)
IMO, schools/districts that learn to live with technology and EMBRACE technology as a teaching tool are far ahead of schools that forbid phones to be out during the school day. In addition, the kids are so used to having access to their technology that I've rarely heard of it being any kind of issue. |
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Gravity
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,233
Jun 27, 2014 0:29:55 GMT
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Post by Gravity on May 28, 2015 14:04:16 GMT
You got the information third or fourth hand if I am correct. It sounds to me like there has to be more to the story.
My DD's middle school and high school both allow ipods/phones during passing periods and lunch. They are not allowed to be used in the classroom without a teacher's permission. If a teacher confiscates a phone, it is taken to the office and locked up. The student's parents may retrieve it in 24 hours. Most kids can't live without their phone for 24 hours so they are careful to not get their phone confiscated.
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Post by Basket1lady on May 28, 2015 14:33:34 GMT
Our school allows devices in the classroom and they use them as part of teaching. I agree with those above--kids are used to that technology and use it constantly. My kids make slide shows, videos, music for class projects all throughout the year, not just for special projects.
As far as destruction of property--I'm sure some kids will still do that, but they won't get away with it. And one of their classmates would be sure to get it all on video!
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krissti
Shy Member
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Post by krissti on May 28, 2015 14:42:45 GMT
I live in the same district as GAJenny. Our distric encourages kids to "BYOT - Bring Your Own Technology." They were also the first district in the southeast to have Smartboards in every classroom years ago, so they take technology seriously.
My teenager has his phone in class for the required use, but can only wear earbuds when teachers allow them to listen to music as they work.
My 9 year old has taken either a tablet or smartphone to use in class since kindergarten. They have laptops/iPads to borrow for kids that don't bring their own.
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Post by mommaho on May 28, 2015 14:49:05 GMT
Really - use their technology in the classroom?!?!?!? What about those students who can't afford technology?
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krissti
Shy Member
Posts: 37
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Post by krissti on May 28, 2015 14:50:21 GMT
They have technology for students to borrow, but it makes sense for kids to use what they will be using at home.
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krissti
Shy Member
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Post by krissti on May 28, 2015 14:51:02 GMT
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Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,015
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Post by Sarah*H on May 28, 2015 15:01:17 GMT
Hm. I have friends with kids who go to school in Harrisburg and I've never heard about out of control, no discipline schools there. Definitely think there is something missing from the story.
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Post by shannoots on May 28, 2015 15:01:55 GMT
I think it really depends on the district and administration. I have a family member who taught in a low income district. They had rules but the administration wouldn't back up the teachers when they tried to enforce them. The teachers stopped writing office referrals because they knew the kids would just be sent back to class. Students can get away with a lot if they know there won't be consequences.
As far as technology goes....again, I think it depends on the district. I student taught at a middle school and the kids weren't allowed to have phones, ipods, etc....with them. They had to stay in their locker and they were pretty strict about it. On the other hand, my kids' district has a BYOD (Bring your own device) policy. My elementary aged kids regularly take their tablets to use in class.
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Post by anxiousmom on May 28, 2015 15:03:02 GMT
Really - use their technology in the classroom?!?!?!? What about those students who can't afford technology? The school that my son(s) attends(ed) is a tech school and they issue ipads to all the students. There is a nominal 'rent' fee ($25-and a fund to assist those who can't pay that.) They are required to have the ipad in school and will be marked off if they don't have it. There are tech policies and appropriate use agreements that are signed, but the kids are allowed to use the ipad at home just as they would their own (as in, there are no blocks put into place.) The school is fully wifi equipped. They are required to submit the majority of their school work via the ipad and a internet site specifically designed for that purpose. Additionally, they are allowed to use their phones to to supplement their ipads. So yes, some schools do allow their kids to use technology, and even encourage it. My son will get a new ipad air next year. As to the issue, I am just going to agree that there is probably a lot missing from the story. I have kids that age(ish) and I know of no school where a kid is allowed to come and go as they please, or allow a kid to willfully destroy school property. |
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Post by katieanna on May 28, 2015 15:12:04 GMT
There could be something missing; I'm just repeating what I was told the other day. From what I understand, since that particular incident, the teacher shows up at class and teaches. If the kids listen, they listen; if not, he just keeps on talking. I don't know if it's the area, the particular school or what ...
I have nothing against technology in the schools. Children need to learn the latest technology in order to prepare themselves for the real world. But learning about technology and having hands-on experience is totally different than listening to music on their ipods and other foolishness during class when they should be learning.
It may be more of a centralized problem as I'm relieved to hear that many people here have not experienced it in their schools.
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Post by mommaho on May 28, 2015 15:33:33 GMT
I guess my comment might have sounded like I didn't agree with technology in the classroom and that isn't the case at all. It is wonderful that there are tech schools out there like your children attend anxiousmom. We live in a small rural area and our schools have a policy about no technology in the classroom except what is provided by the district, which is a computer lab or several computers in each classroom for research.
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Post by christine58 on May 28, 2015 15:59:20 GMT
Did he touch the student to get the earbuds etc from that student? Or did he give a direction? I think there's pieces missing. Our students are allowed to carry their phones and use them in designated areas or on the class with permission from
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Post by anxiousmom on May 28, 2015 16:04:55 GMT
I guess my comment might have sounded like I didn't agree with technology in the classroom and that isn't the case at all. It is wonderful that there are tech schools out there like your children attend anxiousmom. We live in a small rural area and our schools have a policy about no technology in the classroom except what is provided by the district, which is a computer lab or several computers in each classroom for research. I think it is so interesting how every school (even within the same school district) implements their technology rules. The school my kid goes to has it's issues for sure, but I do appreciate the way they are integrating the safe use of technology along with traditional education. I am in a pretty poor and not well respected (but large) school district and I know that the school worked long and hard to write a grant that allows them the ability to offer the ipads. |
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perumbula
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,439
Location: Idaho
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Post by perumbula on May 28, 2015 16:09:41 GMT
Our high school attempted to have a cell phone policy that allowed them to be used in class. F's doubled. Grades dropped across the board. They banned cell phone use in class again, and what do you know, grades went up. (According to all the students the re-banning was "stupid", "ridiculous", and "over the top." Ha!)
"Embracing technology" is not as easy as it sounds. Yes, teachers can still have lesson plans that include kids researching on the internet, but they find that it's much easier to regulate what they are doing and make sure the kids are on task if they use the Chromebooks (our schools have a few classroom sets, and two of our 5th grade classrooms had permanent sets with most of their classwork being done on them.) Kids see cell phones as toys and they use them as such. Maybe in high achieving schools where the kids are fighting for spots in top rated Universities you can allow them, because those students feel the pressure to stay on task and score perfectly on everything. But in average schools where many students are just glad to get a spot at the state university and the majority of kids who go on go to community college, you can't just give the kids free reign on their phones.
TLDR: Allowing kids free use of their phones ends up most of the time with kids using them freely--to do whatever the crap they want regardless of what the classroom work is for the day.
Also, we have behavior issues in our schools (small rural district with a high drop out rate) but we've never had a middle school student pull crap like that.
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Deleted
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Oct 7, 2024 13:33:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 16:57:58 GMT
Our high school attempted to have a cell phone policy that allowed them to be used in class. F's doubled. Grades dropped across the board. They banned cell phone use in class again, and what do you know, grades went up. (According to all the students the re-banning was "stupid", "ridiculous", and "over the top." Ha!) "Embracing technology" is not as easy as it sounds. Yes, teachers can still have lesson plans that include kids researching on the internet, but they find that it's much easier to regulate what they are doing and make sure the kids are on task if they use the Chromebooks (our schools have a few classroom sets, and two of our 5th grade classrooms had permanent sets with most of their classwork being done on them.) Kids see cell phones as toys and they use them as such. Maybe in high achieving schools where the kids are fighting for spots in top rated Universities you can allow them, because those students feel the pressure to stay on task and score perfectly on everything. But in average schools where many students are just glad to get a spot at the state university and the majority of kids who go on go to community college, you can't just give the kids free reign on their phones. TLDR: Allowing kids free use of their phones ends up most of the time with kids using them freely--to do whatever the crap they want regardless of what the classroom work is for the day.
Also, we have behavior issues in our schools (small rural district with a high drop out rate) but we've never had a middle school student pull crap like that. Do you have any numbers or studies to back this up or is it simply your opinion? Our district is one of the best in the state (I'm thinking it was 2nd in the state...but I can't find a link to share) and the high school my children have attended are routinely on the US News list for best high schools in the nation. |
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Deleted
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Oct 7, 2024 13:33:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 17:07:39 GMT
Keep in mind, starting with the upcoming school year, the district no longer added "inclement weather days" into the school calendar. They've worked hard to implement online learning with lessons and assignments for students to participate in on days when a weather event forces the closure of school buildings. We had a "test run" this past winter with all the ice and snow days we had and with that test run, obvious glitches in the system were found. With that said, I'm pretty sure they weren't expecting to have to be fully prepared to go live with it since they didn't plan on it until the 2015-16 school year.
The world is evolving and technology has been and will continue to be a necessity in life. Teach students how to use it responsibly, beginning at a young age, and you're going to be successful with few exceptions.
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Post by katieanna on May 28, 2015 17:50:47 GMT
Did he touch the student to get the earbuds etc from that student? Or did he give a direction? I think there's pieces missing. Our students are allowed to carry their phones and use them in designated areas or on the class with permission from It's my understanding that the student was merely instructed; no physical discipline was involved. I realize that kids today attend school in a radically different environment than most of us had. Technology is so far advanced from what we had access to... I understand the need for devices for educational purposes; even a cell phone for emergency purposes...but to use the devices in whatever manner the student feels like regardless of what's going on in the classroom is ridiculous. Thanks for your input. |
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Post by freecharlie on May 28, 2015 18:12:30 GMT
If there was that big of an issue, I'd say it was with administration.
With the one kid who dropped the computer, my guess was that he is on an IEP and had a behavior plan. If not, the school district should have pressed charges for breaking the computer.
I taught in a behavior classroom and the clearing of the desk, tossing computer on the floor, cussing at and hitting staff was not uncommon, but it was not in a setting where there were typical peers.
I would not teach in that school.
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perumbula
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,439
Location: Idaho
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Post by perumbula on May 28, 2015 18:20:14 GMT
Our high school attempted to have a cell phone policy that allowed them to be used in class. F's doubled. Grades dropped across the board. They banned cell phone use in class again, and what do you know, grades went up. (According to all the students the re-banning was "stupid", "ridiculous", and "over the top." Ha!) "Embracing technology" is not as easy as it sounds. Yes, teachers can still have lesson plans that include kids researching on the internet, but they find that it's much easier to regulate what they are doing and make sure the kids are on task if they use the Chromebooks (our schools have a few classroom sets, and two of our 5th grade classrooms had permanent sets with most of their classwork being done on them.) Kids see cell phones as toys and they use them as such. Maybe in high achieving schools where the kids are fighting for spots in top rated Universities you can allow them, because those students feel the pressure to stay on task and score perfectly on everything. But in average schools where many students are just glad to get a spot at the state university and the majority of kids who go on go to community college, you can't just give the kids free reign on their phones. TLDR: Allowing kids free use of their phones ends up most of the time with kids using them freely--to do whatever the crap they want regardless of what the classroom work is for the day.
Also, we have behavior issues in our schools (small rural district with a high drop out rate) but we've never had a middle school student pull crap like that. Do you have any numbers or studies to back this up or is it simply your opinion? Our district is one of the best in the state (I'm thinking it was 2nd in the state...but I can't find a link to share) and the high school my children have attended are routinely on the US News list for best high schools in the nation. Did you read the rest of what I wrote? I did exclude top performing students and high schools from my statement. Those kids are different. They have huge pressures from themselves, peers, teachers, and (often) parents to stay "top performing." They stay on task. Here's an article on the topic. And there is this paragraph taken directly from the article: "This view is misguided, according to Beland and Murphy, who found that the ban produced improvements in test scores among students, with the lowest-achieving students gaining twice as much as average students. The ban had a greater positive impact on students with special education needs and those eligible for free school meals, while having no discernible effect on high achievers." IOW, cell phones may help kids at your high school, but they are hurting kids at most high schools and the kids who need the most intervention are being hurt the worst. |
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If these students are allowed to show up at class whenever they feel like it, listen to their ipods and play with their phones during class....then how are they supposed to learn?
