Some schools have a no tolerance policy on cell phones. This means that if a student's cell phone is seen or heard during class, they are automatically suspended. Even if the student is completely on task, and their phone rings in their bag, it is automatic suspension.
At first, this policy shocked me for several reasons. First of all, it seemed really harsh, because I don't know how I feel about students missing school for perhaps an honest mistake, particularly when it seems that sometimes even teachers can not keep their cell phones from ringing at inappropriate times. Secondly, it made me realize how the possibilities of using cell phones for educational purposes in a public school would not be an easy task. I think that using technology for educational purposes is something that most teachers would agree is a good thing, however I don't think that many teachers are in fact acting on it.
On the other hand, cell phones can be a huge distraction for students and perhaps if it keeps them from being distracted that is a good thing. I know that I can definitely be distracted by having a computer in front of me during class. That being said, I often think that even if I didn't have a computer, I would still probably be distracted by something else. When I was in high school, hardly any one had cell phones, and I don't think that most phones could even text. That being said, that definitely did not stop me from communicating with my peers in class by passing notes :)
Anyway, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out once school starts. Yet, I could understand a harsh punishment for a student blatantly using their cell phone in your class, but if it just happens to ring while in their bag, who can say that they have never made that mistake?
Friday, August 29, 2008
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