The student senate has presented us a possible revision and their thoughts about the policy and the process of change here at W-SR High School. Following is what they are proposing. Please read and respond. Thank you.
Electronic Device & Cell Phone Policy Review Committee
The Electronic Policy Review Committee was formed by the W-SR Student Senate to assess the current Electronic Devices & Cell Phone Policy of Waverly-Shell Rock Senior High School and recommend ways to update the school’s policy to respond to the integration of technology in today’s society.
Current W-SR Electronic Device & Cell Phone Policy (W-SR Student Handbook ‘08)
Electronic devices such as cell phones, I-pods, blackberries, portables (DVD, cassette, or radio) headset and other such devices and the use of, are prohibited.
Cell phones may be kept in lockers with the devices turned off.
A student in violation of the electronic device/cell phone policy will receive two (2) detentions and a parent will need to pick up the device at the High School Office.
Committee’s Research, Input, and Findings
The committee took input from various sources on possible policy changes including student, teacher, administrator, other school districts, and journal research on this topic.
Students were in favor of a change to the policy which has become outdated. Students offered ideas of policy revisions including: Cell phone use between classes, during lunch, during study hall, and/or assessing the punishment. Students also responded with a desire to use personal audio devices (IPods, MP3 players, etc) during study hall as a way to focus and/or relax. Students feel that carrying their cell phones and audio devices with them is more secure.
A teacher email was sent out that received little response regarding the subject. Teachers who did comment expressed concern for loosening restriction too much regarding cell phone policy. Many teachers when asked about their opinion on the cell phone policy admitted to it being outdated. Study Hall Supervisors also were asked their opinion about the use of personal listening devices during study hall. They commented that they thought that personal audio device usage would be acceptable as long as they were not disruptive.
Through communication with students and faculty of other schools and an article in the Des Moines Register, information was collected on other school’s policies and their assessment of their effectiveness. The Des Moines Register Article specifically was about a school whose cell phone policy allows for students to carry cell phones and use them between classes and during their lunch period. The article mentioned that teachers and administrators thought that the cell phone policy was effective at addressing the current issue of integrating technology in the real world, while still providing for a learning environment. A student from a school in the Cedar Rapids area was also asked about their personal audio device policy. They commented that they were allowed to use personal audio devices during study hall and also teachers could permit the use of audio devices during work time in their classes.
Summary of Proposal
The proposal that the Waverly-Shell Rock Student Senate has developed incorporates various aspects of various policies.
The main points that are included in our proposal are:
Ø Cell phone use between class periods
Ø Use of personal audio listening devices during study hall
Ø Revision of the electronic device carrying policy
Ø Increased student accountability for actions
Ø An Increase in Punishment for Policy Violation
Benefits from Proposal
The Waverly-Shell Rock Student Senate Electronic Policy Review Committee sees many benefits in revising the cell phone policy.
These benefits include:
Ø Increases student responsibility by making the student more accountable for their action with more freedoms and harsher penalties. By requiring students to pick up device from office, it makes them accountable for their own actions. It will help students learn how to responsibly possess a cell phone in society
Ø A reduction in hidden phone usage during class by allowing students a time to use their cell phones during passing. Discourages classroom use with stricter policy.
Ø Integrating technology will keep our school current with the technology advancements of the new millennium. With nearly 90% of students owning a cell phone and/or personal audio device, this technology could be utilized in a learning environment to teach students about the etiquette of phones, demonstrate social networking, research, or even connect with other students from around the world.
Ø Use of cell phone applications like calendars can be utilized to help students stay organized and eliminate paper consumption in planner production in future years.
Proposal for Revised Electronic and Cell Phone Policy
Use of electronic devices such as cell phones, blackberries, I-pods, MP3 players, portable (DVD, CD, cassette, or radio) devices, and other such devices and the use of are prohibited during class.
Personal audio listening devices (I-pods, MP3, and walkman; excluding cell phones with music capabilities) may be used with approval from study hall supervisor during study hall for personal listening. The device may only be used during study hall and should be kept off for all other class periods. Use during other times of the day will result in three (3) detentions, parent notification of policy violation, and confiscation of item. The item may be picked up by the student at the High School Office.
Cell phone use is prohibited during class periods of the school day. Cell phones may be used between class periods in the hallways. Students will be allowed to carry their cell phones with them to class but cell phones may not be heard or used during class periods. Cell phone use may not be used as an excuse for tardiness to a class and may not be used during class. If a student’s cell phone rings or is used during class, it will be confiscated, the student will receive three (3) detentions, parents will be notified of policy violation, and the student will need to pick up the cell phone from the High School Office at the end of their school day.
A student in violation of the electronic device/cell phone policy will receive three (3) detentions, parent notification of policy violation, and the student will need to pick up the device at the High School Office.
Recommended Plan of Action
The Electronic and Cell Phone Policy Committee of the Student Senate recommends the adoption of these policy amendments. The committee recommends that the policy amendments be formally presentation to the High School Administrators for review, critic, and assessment. Furthermore, the policy should be presented to faculty at a Staff In-Service Meeting for staff input. The policy would be presented to the High School Student Body at a General Assembly and/or gone over in CORE group, but an assembly preferred. The committee recommends the policy should be put on a ‘trial run’ for a two week period with assessment of policy following this trial period to determine if the policy is adequate and should be adopted into the student manual.
Additional Thoughts:
Camera phones/locker rooms policy
Harassment policy
Notification of Privilege (like in HB section for Lounge)
Possible issues and how we are addressing them
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Mr. Fox, and the WSR Student Senate.
ReplyDeleteIt will be necessary for the student handbook to separate phones from personal music devices. While they are both electonics, they are not the same and should not be treated as such.
As to these proposed changes:
Ø Cell phone use between class periods
Students need to be allowed to check their communication devices between classes. They could be receiving important information from parents, siblings or their work place. While in the past this type of message used to go through the office, text and voice mail makes such communication much more efficient. (Without taking up office worker time and effort.)
Ø Use of personal audio listening devices during study hall
Not all music is focusing and/or relaxing, nor is the message of all music positive. Who will supervise what students are listening to? Do we really want to open students to the opportunity to listen to explicit lyrics in a school setting? Study hall already has lounge time that is intended for student relaxation.
Ø Revision of the electronic device carrying policy
This would bring our policy in line with what is currently happening at WSR.
Ø Increased student accountability for actions
Ø An Increase in Punishment for Policy Violation
I have always thought it unwise for our school to confiscate a student's cell phone and keep it for more than the day. What is our school's liability if the student who's phone is confiscated needs that phone in a personal saftey situation that night? Yet, it is locked away in a principal's desk drawer until a parent picks it up. Having the student pick up a confiscated phone after school that same day makes sense.
Mugan's proposed changes:
Ø Any instructor that chooses to say - NO PHONES in my room - needs to be able to have that option.
Ø WSR needs to investigate ways to use these technologies for educational purposes. Instructors need to have the latitude to allow students to use phones in class for such ideas.
Ø Any further discussion of casual student use of personal listening devices needs to center around what students could be listening to... Do the positives outweigh this significant potential negative.
Thanks for the opportunity
Mr. Mugan
I think the proposed policy shows a lot of research and thought. You have also done an excellent job of communicating your message and marketing it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that cell phones should be able to be carried and checked between classes. I think more emphasis needs to be placed on the definition of use in class. When it says that if a cell phone rings or is used in class that is a violation, does that also include silent settings such as vibrate? I think that needs to be made very clear. I know that earlier in the policy it states that cell phones should be OFF during class and everyone needs to be clear on that. Vibrate settings are still disruptive to that student and to the others around who can hear them.
I agree that W-SR needs to investigate ways to use these technologies for educational purposes.
I do not feel that any ban on listening devices needs to occur. My response to "how will we know what they are listening to" is how do we know what they are thinking? How do we know what they are reading, listening to or viewing? I recognize the difference in that it is a school setting, but we are not providing the content so I feel we are not responsible for it. I guess another way to look at it is that they could call a 1-900 number in between classes or they could even have a friend call and listen to explicit content from that friend. There should be specific guidelines as to the volume of headphones so that others are not disrupted and cannot hear the content being played. Another issue to be resolved would be the sharing of one device by using a headphone splitter or each having one ear bud.
I think the largest challenge is the use of the camera feature.
This is a nice way to discuss the policy proposal.
Mrs. Nelson
I am new to the blog-o-sphere, so please don't crucify me. :-) Thanks to Mugan for helping me figure out how to do this! Anyway, I responded via e-mail to Mr. Fox's e-mail, and he asked me to post my response on the blog comments, so here goes . . .
ReplyDelete“Just curious . . . will there be a verbal forum in which this can be discussed? I have ideas, but, to be completely honest, crafting a lengthy, well-written, and detailed response takes so much time. Moreover, I think that a face-to-face conversation among students and educators would allow for true dialogue and discourse, which would seem to be an essential component in this matter. Plus, I don't know if others feel this way, but sometimes I find that e-mail is not the most effective form of communication for me because it doesn't always allow me to convey my true meaning and/or intent. Just some thoughts . . .”
B. Davis
I am also in agreement that students should be allowed to check their phones between classes. To be honest, how many teachers already do this? I don't think we are that different from the students in that regard. To the kids, their cell phones/texting/etc connect them to the outside world and to take that away from them might not be the right thing to do. Times have changed from when we were students. In my mind, it would be similar if someone told me that I was not allowed to receive personal emails from my husband/family while at work... I've come to depend on email as a connection to the oustide world. Most of those outside emails aren't anything that couldn't wait until later, but that feeling of disconnect would certainly make me uncomfortable. Texting is the "emailing" for our students. We've taken so many of their forums of communication away from them already - no MySpace, no emailing, no Facebook. I think it might be time to allow them some freedom in which to practice their responsibility.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have no problem with students using MP3 players during study hall time. To be honest, for the past 3 years I've let students bring iPods, walkmans, etc into my semester test time. The rules were simple - no listening while you took your test and no one around you should be able to hear your music playing. My room has never been so quiet after testing. When not otherwise occupied, I had to continually "shush" students who were done testing. We might find our study halls are more quiet when kids get to listen to music. Yes, some of their music might be questionable. But to ban listening devices on that premise doesn't make sense. Some of the books they read also contain questionable language, but we don't micromanage that. There are some areas in their lives that we can't control - if they chose to listen to music with explicit lyrics, that might fall under parental responsibility to monitor their kids' iTunes account.
As for the Harassment aspect, I would think that if a student is harassing someone via texts, it would be must easier to determine who the texts were being sent from. In the past, we've had students harrassed via free email accounts where it was much more difficult to tell where/who the message orginiated from. (although Matt the computer God could probably still figure it out)
I agree the camera phones/locker room could pose a problem. How is this handled now with student athletes? Since they are in the locker rooms before/after school hours, I assume they already have their cell phones in there with them. However it is currently being addressed with these students could perhaps guide us with how to handle it with all students.
I do like this forum for our "discussions" as well. I do worry that some of our "non-techie" teachers (yes, Carlson - I mean you) will have a difficult time posting here.
Mandie
Testing 1.2.
ReplyDeleteI tried to post and it didn't work.
ellen
OK,
ReplyDeleteNow I "can do it", Dave!
I agree that the student senate has done some excellent thinking regarding a change in the "electronic" policy.
I am also concerned about the camera issue.
I agree with Barb that an open forum for discussion would be beneficial for both students and staff.
I am in favor of a trial period with evaluation done at the end of that period by both students and staff.
ellen
I'm thinking there may be few out there that have nt posted. It would ideal if all would take the opportunity to be ehard.
ReplyDeleteI admire the thought and effort the students have put into their proposal.
ReplyDeleteI think that asking students to turn the phones off during class is resonable. Vibrate settings are still audible and distracting.
On music devices I agree that we can't control what they listen to and would like to see them allowed during study hall.
I think Ellen's idea of a trial period is worth some thought.
I am still not convinced on the puishment. I agree students should have to pick them up but detention doesn't seem to be the best penalty. Maybe they will need to check their cell phone in at the office for those three school days???
Hope this Helps,
Renee Borglum
I think the student senate has a valid proposal. I personally would opt to carry my cell phone rather than keep it unsecured in a locker if I were a student today. I also have no problem with students checking their phones between classes. I checked with my husband to discover the cell phone policy at Nestle for an insight into the "real world". Their policy restricts the use of cell phones for employees to break times. This would coordinate well with students checking them in the 5 minute exchange times. I believe the personal technology devices available have great possibilities for educational uses. Think of the tools they have in the palm of their hand--calculators, calendars, cameras (yes they have their place in education when used responsibly) and even, in some cases, the web. Students should learn to use this technology in a responsible way...why not here? The issue of bullying/harassment does give me pause, but I think that using the technology for this is also their downfall due to the easy tracking of activity, if needed.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on music. Some people do work better with music playing. Personally, I always studied better with music in the background. Others work best in silence. Would it be that terrible to allow personal music devices for those that would like to use them during study hall? Obviously common sense rules should apply (as outlined by Mandie). Perhaps this would create a more productive study hall environment for all.
Let's give the students the opportunity to practice responsibility. However, with responsibility comes consequences if abused. I agree with Renee...I'm not sure detention really is seen as a terrible consequence. Other ideas? The students already have expressed that the current consequences are too light, let them voice what they feel is fair as well.
Regardless of the outcome of our discussion, I think it is important that students understand the difference between privilege and right, especially on this topic.
Barb Bates
I don't see any problem with any of the proposed changes. I say go ahead with the trial period and re-evaluate it.
ReplyDeleteI'm still formulating my thoughts, but for the most part I am open to the idea of increased access to their phones. They already carry them and check them between classes without much distraction. I would insist that they be turned off or on silent during class.
ReplyDeleteOne big concern we should all have is about the photos, recording, etc. and how they might be used during class to "catch" a teacher doing something. With technology that I don't claim to begin to understand, I'm sure these could be doctored to show just about anything and posted for the world to see. Scary.
I don't think that we are going to be able to draw the line between phones and music devices, as Paul suggested. Many devices serve both functions. I agree with Mandie in that we can't micro-manage what they choose to listen too. As for some uses of these devices, this is an article that I found recently (synopsis):
ReplyDeleteMobile College App: Turning iPhones Into 'Super-Clickers' for Classroom Feedback
Chronicle of Higher Education (12/15/08) Young, Jeffrey R.
Abilene Christian University researchers have developed NANOtools, an iPhone and iPod Touch program that enables students to simultaneously answer questions posed by a professor. NANOtools allows professors to create instant polls in a variety of formats, including true-or-false, multiple choice, and free-form questions. Students answer on an iPhone or iPod Touch, and the software sorts and displays the answers submitted. The professor can view responses privately or share them with the class by projecting them on a screen. Several companies sell similar classroom-response systems, known as clickers, which use small wireless gadgets similar to a TV remote control. Most clickers enable students to answer true-or-false and multiple choice questions, but do not allow open-ended feedback like the iPhone system. Many colleges have experimented with clickers, but they can be problematic. First, every student must have a device, and they also must remember to bring them to class. Using a cell phone instead of a clicker solves these problems, says Abilene professor William Rankin. Some clicker companies also are developing software to turn smart phones into student-feedback systems.
Similar to what others have said, I am all for checking phones between classes and carrying them (they do anyway). Instead making students break the rules, change with the times. As a teacher, you can distinguish if phones or ipods are an issue in your class. If so, deal with it. Increase punishment for offenses. I would like to see the “final proposal” as it will be posted in the handbook before giving full approval.
ReplyDeleteASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL FOX:
ReplyDeleteLIFE IS A DANCE WE LEARN AS WE GO., YOU ASKED US TO RESPOND TO THE BLOG AND REVISIONS., WELL HERE IT GOES,.
IF THE STUDENTS WERE TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PRIVILEGE NOT A RIGHT ., WITH CHOICES COME CONSEQUENCES., IF THEY ABUSE THE PRIVILEGE THEY LOSE THE PRIVILEGE.,
A TESTING PERIOD FOR THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA,. GET A BETTER IDEA OF THE IMPACT THIS MAY HAVE ON CLASSES AND STUDENT BEHAVIOR.,
MAYBE WE SHOULD WEIGH THE POSITIVES VS THE NEGATIVES OF THIS REVISION.
THAT IS WHAT I THINK ABOUT THAT., HAVE A NICE DAY., GOOD LUCK
RUBE
Changes to the cell phone policy are necessary. I see no problem with phone usage between classes. Let's come up with something to try and evaluate in time.
ReplyDeleteJust trying this "blogging" thing. Bill
ReplyDeleteThis post if from Mr. Steckelberg:
ReplyDeleteWithout going into to depth of detail:
We need to have a plan in place to handle the extra cheating and harassment that will take place. Also, incidents like the one that happened on Tuesday with the freshmen girl will become more common. There needs to be a plan in place for handling that. Remember, it is human nature to push boundaries. How far beyond the written policy are we going to be willing to go?
On the positive side, there could be many educational benefits: Lectures could be recorded in MP3 format and placed on our website or emailed home where they can be downloaded by students who are home ill. This would save the office time in collecting the homework and the parents’ time in coming into the school to get the assignments. Also, many phones have bluetooth capability and the educational uses of that are limitless.
I too think it's time to reevaluate our policies with 'new' technologies that are so common for our students. Students, in my opinion, are going to check their phones for messages whether there's a policy allowing them to do so or not. There are many uses for cell phones today, so let's allow them to use them. Naturally there needs to be some limits to this, though. For example, when a student is taking a test, maybe they should have their cell phone laying out on their desk so there are no questions to the use of the phone.
ReplyDeleteAs for the music, it's true that sometimes it helps with focusing--my guess is that studyhalls would be quieter and there would be more focused work time if students were allowed to listen to music--as long as it's not too loud.
Part of high school and our jobs as high school teachers is preparing students for the "real world." Our students are going to need to know how to use these technologies responsibly when they leave W-SR, so let's help them learn to use them responsibly.
I agree that some policy changes may be in order, but with increased freedom needs to come greater accountability. I appreciate the student effort in putting together the proposal, but we need to take a long look at how to monitor and regulate the use of this technology.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad to hear that we will have an opportunity to discuss this matter in a face-to-face meeting as well as through our blog discussion. While I see value in using the blog to either spark conversation or to further discussion, I would hate to see it be our only means of communicating as an entire staff. Personally, I find online discussions to be more time-consuming because it takes me longer to compose well-written comments than it does to formulate an oral version of my thoughts. At any rate, I appreciate the opportunity for this first discussion and look forward to meeting with everyone in person! :)
ReplyDeleteAs for the cell phone policy proposal, I have no argument against allowing the students to check and/or use their phones during passing periods. As for allowing cell phones in the classroom, I would suggest that, unless they are being used for a teacher-assigned classroom activity, they be turned off. As was mentioned previously, the vibrate mode can be distracting. I also understand the point some are making about cell phones’ photo capabilities. Somehow that issue does need to be addressed. At this point, I’m not sure how. I’ll need to think on that more. As for issues of increased cheating and harassment, I agree that teachers could require students to place their closed cell phones on their desk during a test. I also believe that proximity control works well during testing and that teachers will be able to deter cell phone use if they walk around their classroom during testing and make themselves “visible” to the students.
I also have no argument against allowing students to use audio devices in study hall. As a personal policy, though, I would allow audio devices in the library but would require that they be used by one individual at a time and that the volume not be audible to others. I also agree that we should not be held responsible for monitoring the music students listen to. If audio devices are going to be allowed, I feel we have to also allow students to select their own music, just as they are allowed to check out their own books in the library.
While I appreciate that the Student Senate has proposed increased punishments for cell phone policy violation, I have to question whether or not detention is really a punishment for the students. Perhaps with the advent of the new detention system (not allowing detentions to build until the end of the semester) students will begin taking detentions more seriously. As I’ve observed in the past, though, detention hasn’t seemed to deter students from making poor choices or displaying negative behaviors.
Post from Mrs. Peth:
ReplyDeleteI agree that a change in policy is warranted and the new proposal appears to be appropriate.
I only have concerns about camera phone use in the locker room or bath rooms. I know that most students are mature and would never think to use their phones for inappropriate activity, yet how can we provide measures that will prevent a student from snapping an inappropriate picture during passing time in the bathroom or locker room.
Do we need to have a "fatal policy" if a student is in violation beyond the typical means? They would lose their phone privileges completely for a quarter or semester etc... Just a thought.
I am alright with a change in policy to some extent. I question the need to check between classes, at most work places you are allowed to use your phone during breaks, but they don't have breaks every 45 minutes. I think at lunch time and perhaps during lounge time would be enough. Students in restricted study hall of course do not have that privilege. I believe there needs to be a system in place for repeat offenders with escalating consequences. I like the idea that they have to turn their cell phones into the office at the beginning of the day and can pick them up when they leave, but who would be responsible for monitoring this?
ReplyDeleteI think phones should be turned off during class time.
Regarding audio devices, I agree that study hall (not restricted) would be a good compromise on this issue as long as it is one person per devise (no ear bud sharing) and it must not be audible to anyone else. Another idea I came across is that they were only allowed to use one earbud so that they could hear fire alarms or other announcements if they needed to.
Camera phones and cameras in general have no place in locker rooms or rest rooms.
As a faculty, once a decision is made, we need to be consistent on how we deal with it in our classrooms. Too many times we hear of teachers who do not follow the handbook anyway.
We knew this day would come, but we must think this through very carefully. I have an interesting proposal that I would like to share. A student gave a persuasive speech on using cell phones in school. He discussed the advantages and disadvantages, and the following was one of the compromises offered. Teachers should be able to set up their own classroom rules concerning cell phones. Since it can now be assumed that nearly every student will have a phone, it would be reasonable to ask the students to set their cell phones on a table or in a basket when entering a room. This would take care of many of the security issues and would also alleviate the texting in class. Pictures could not be taken nor would answers be transmitted during tests.
ReplyDeleteI would take this a step further in my room. Since we can now acknowledge that students have phones on their person, we can legally ask to have the phones put in a place that would not distract and would keep the student in compliance. I would want students to place cell phones in a special pocketed hanger with a pocket number assigned to each class member. Should a phone go off during class, it would be obvious as to whom it belonged to. Phones would be secure and would be able to be picked up as students left the room. We would be within our rights as classroom teachers to ask that of students and would hope that our administrators would support us in our classroom policies. (Let’s face it; no student really needs to have a phone on them during class.)
As to music, I believe some students do need music to help them focus. I have students ask during writing time to have soft music playing….it DOES ‘soothe the savage beast!’ I agree with what others have said concerning music so I won’t add any more.
I look forward to the face-to-face exchange, but I am grateful for the opportunity to start thinking about the possibilities. Consequences must be swift and harsh. Detention is not an option.
This post is from Mr. Pyle:
ReplyDeleteDear .....
My personal (and how personal this is) opinion on cell phone usage in schools is pretty cut and dry.
I do not believe they have a place in school. We have phones for students to use already, and students can always be reached.
Two concerns:
1st: cheating
Second, and larger concern:
Roughly two years ago a couple students (not very nice ones) apparently took videos and pictures in the classroom and decided to post them on My Space, but did not ask me. The students changed quite a few facts about the circumstances of the footage and it was, according to a lawyer I decided to speak with about this, SLANDEROUS. Thank goodness some other students let me know I was a feature on My Space.
IF the District allows students to have cell phones and this happens to another teacher, my question is:
Will W/SR pick up the lawyer's tab and support teachers if teachers need to consult a lawyer about such issues?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with much of what has been said. It is vital to have face-to-face communication about this and have all faculty on the same page about the new policy.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Mr. Benham -- it would be nice to see the full policy in writing before making a decision.
I feel like there is much to think about with this new policy. Although it may be time for a change, there is still much to consider as others have stated (camera phones, texting test answers, using during class, etc.).
I do appreciate the work the Student Senate has put into this. They seem to have researched the topic well. I applaud that!!
I think it is time for some changes to be made with the cell phone policy. I think the students did a nice job researching and presenting their case. I think it is reasonable that they have cell phone time during lunch and in between classes and maybe during lounge time during study hall. I don't think they should be allowed use throughout the entire study hall.
ReplyDeleteI like what Pat said about allowing them to have one ear bud only. I also agree that we cannot dictate what they can and can't listen to - too much micromanaging and very difficult to enforce.
I agree that there will need to be greater accountability - I'm not sure detention makes them accountable but I like the suggestions of having them keep them in the office for a certain length of time. I also like the accountability ideas for them while they are in the classroom - particularly Peggy's suggestion of them having a spot in the classroom. I would be just a little concerned that someone might grab someone else's instead of their own but I think that could be managed.
Photo phones and harassment have the potential to be problematic, but if they are already carrying their phones with them, shouldn't we be concerned about it already? I think we just need to make sure there are stiff consequences and I think we need student input on that. Would this be an appropriate discussion topic for an upcoming CORE session?
mentally processing...as would Rodin's Thinker.
ReplyDeleteMany of you have made the case that the rules need to be changed. I am naively going to ask: Do the rules really need to be changed, or are we just tired of fighting the fight?
ReplyDeleteSometimes rules are broken because they are bad rules. Sometimes rules are broken because they are outdated or archaic. Sometimes rules are changed because it is inconvenient to enforce them.
I don't believe our existing rules are bad. Maybe they are becoming outdated. I could be convinced of that although I'm not totally convinced yet. I would hope the third option does not apply.
I do find it curious that while we are encouraged to explore the possibilites of using the technologies in the classroom, that is the one place they have been expressly prohibited.
Linda
a word of advice on blogging: from recent experience ( I just lost an hour of blogging composition!), type your thoughts in Word and save and then, cut and paste into this blog. Wish I had done so...
ReplyDeletehmmm, if I had blogged with my cell phone, would I have lost it?
I am okay with music. We listen to some music in my class during work time - but it is public and acceptable to all. I too like how it changes the work environment.
ReplyDeleteYet if the students are allowed to privately listen to questionable/objectionable/obscene music in our study halls, classes or hallways - what does it say of our school's position on the message of such music. Indifference is indistinguishable from endorsement.
The sum of the comments on music has been:
1. Music helps some kids focus
Yes, I agree, some focus better with some music in the background.
2. The kids will be much quieter without supervisor effort
Quiet kids, effort free. – is this really our goal?
3. What they are listening to is none of our business / not our responsibility.
I would ask – then why do we filter the internet? If surfing the web keeps the students quiet, what’s the problem what the material is?
I am not referring to songs that are just a little questionable. Some current music is full of foul language, demeaning references to women, racism, and descriptions of violence. We would not have this material in our school – via the web, in books, or in classrooms. Why is it okay for the students to avail themselves to it just because ear buds make it private?
Articles on the topic:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14227775/
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403EEDA1E3FF93AA25751C1A961958260
Still not sold - take a look at these lyrics (Readers beware these are explicit…)
http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/violence/tower_of_silence-lyrics-1011304.html
http://lyrics.astraweb.com/display/204/anthrax..stomp_442..random_acts_of_senseless_violence.html
http://lyrics.astraweb.com/display/687/boyz_n_da_hood..boyz_n_da_hood..bitches_bizness.html
http://lyrics.astraweb.com/display/1001/ben_folds..supersunnyspeedgraphic_the_lp..bitches_aint_shit.html
The solution – no ear buds. Play some acceptable music lightly, yet publicly, in the background during study hall. All of the positives, none of the negatives.
Thanks for the opportunity,
Strive to be happy,
Mugan
I am sure my comments will prove me to be the old lab that I am. What is it that is so important that students must check their cell phones every 45 minutes? Shouldn't maybe once, like at lunch, be enough? Will a change in policy escalate tardies? Will it increase the number of students wanting to leave class for the restroom because they didn't have time to go in between classes? Will the answers to my test be texted out before the next class enters the room?
ReplyDeleteWoof! Woof! from the old lab, Sue R.
My comments will probably show me to be the old lab that I am. What is so important that students need to check cell phones every 45 minutes? Would once a day, like at lunch, be enough? What is their focus--my class or the cell phone vibrating in their pockets? Will tardies increase? Will trips to the restroom during class increase since they won't take the time in between classes? Will answers to my test be texted out before the next class comes in? Since most students regard detention as a joke, will the "punishment" be a deterent? Should the the "punishment" have a increasing degree as infractions continue?
ReplyDeleteJust some thoughts from an old lab.....
Woof! Woof! Sue R.
This relatively young pup thinks you make some excellent points, Sue R.
ReplyDelete(I think that at the age of 35, I still fall in the young pup category though our students might beg to differ!)
Allow the physical presence of cell phones in classrooms. In moments of crisis or emergency, this could be a safety feature if all other forms of communication with the outside world are unavailable. It would also protect the personal security of the phones and their personal information from being taken from lockers. As a pillar of character, allowing open possession of a cell phone in the classroom would demonstrate trustworthiness rather than students ‘hiding’ their phones in the pouches of their hoodies or elsewhere which is the current trend; what pillar of character does that teach?
ReplyDeleteLeave turned off cell phones, labelled with names on them, at the door of the classroom in a container and pick them up on the way out similar to our W-SR coat and bag check at the locker. Voluntarily placing the phone in a common container out of individual reach would demonstrate honesty on the part of the student. Names on phones would solve any problem of whose phone was not turned off should it go off. Controlling who retrieves which phone is not the teacher’s responsibility.
Inappropriate use of camera phones would be a concern; how would W-SR deal with this?
What are the legal issues involved in the allowance of cell phones in classrooms? Does a teacher have the legal right to confiscate a cell phone from a student? In the past, a teacher did not have the legal right to take personal property from a student.
Assign a tardy if late arrival due to checking cell phone between classes.
Use of time between classes should be used wisely if checking phones and should incorporate any need for use of the facilities; checking phones between classes should not cause an increase of requests to use the restroom during classes. By having cell phones out of the reach of the individual students during class, we could be assured that a student requesting to use the restroom would not instead be going there to use a cell phone.
Allow use of listening devices during all study halls and lunch putting the responsibility of the choice of music on the student. Such usage should be individual and inaudible to others. It could cause a decrease in nonessential chatter in a structured study hall. Music is a fine art as is foreign language and can provide stimulus to the brain to motivate student effort and learning. If a student uses music as a learning aid outside the school, why not allow the student to use what works for him/her ‘in’ school? The choice of music should be the student’s responsibility. Many teachers at W-SR use music as an instructional strategy teaching a mathematic formula, a verb conjugation, a set of rules, a list of important information to remember and it works.
How would we differentiate between listening devices for music and a cell phone which can also be used as a personal listening device for music and would perhaps be equipped with a camera feature? Would we allow texting during study halls? It could promote a quiet atmosphere for others.
I concur with many of the points made by others previously on this blog and could envision a persuasive viewpoint on both the pros and cons of allowing cell phones in the classroom or between classes.
Whatever is decided, should the current policy alter, any future cell phone policies should enhance learning in the classrooms and not simply create more time-consuming control duties of the staff.
As for educational use of cell phones in class, I feel that is another issue to be addressed separately if/when W-SR allows cell phones in the classroom. At such time, we would need to discuss equity among the students. Although many, perhaps even most students possess cell phones, I would not make the assumption that all do. In order to use cell phones instructionally, we would need to ensure a classroom set of cell phones with similar capabilities for the learning task. $?
I think that we should be asking ourselves ‘what’ is the strongest driving force behind a desire for a change in the current policy.
My first impression was that I would be completely opposed to a more liberal cell phone policy.
ReplyDeleteI must say that after reading through the proposal put forth by the Student Senate, that I think it would be okay.
Ø Cell phone use between class periods
Fine.
Phones off during class. I like the idea of phones off and on the desk (or where ever the teacher wants them) during testing.
This would be similar to what employers expect.
Ø Use of personal audio listening devices during study hall
Fine, as long as others can’t hear it. I like the idea of only having one ear bud in so that students can hear fire alarm, etc. (Although, if the music cannot be heard by those near them, the student should be able to hear that anyway.)
I agree with Amy Chopard that we don’t monitor what they read and that we shouldn’t monitor what they listen to. Leave that up to parents.
Teacher discression for use in classroom.
Ø Revision of the electronic device carrying policy
Ø Increased student accountability for actions
Great. We need more of that.
Ø An Increase in Punishment for Policy Violation
Great idea. Based on other postings, it looks like we need to kind of punishment further.
I don’t think that students being required to leave their phones in the office for a number of days after multiple offenses would be very effective. Some of those students would claim that they left their phones at home, and continue to carry them around anyway.
For safety reasons, I like the suggestion that students could take their phones with them at the end of the day.
I like the idea of a trial period. Allowing phones in the locker rooms/bathrooms needs to be addressed.
I, personally, do not like the idea of students taking my picture with their camera phone. I would want my right to privacy protected in that instance. (No photos of school personnel without their permission.)
Whatever the rule, I think that it is important for all staff to respect that and enforce it.