| Cell phones are everywhere, and chances are that | | | | altogether in all schools. Others may have a partial use |
| you have a special relationship with yours. The sad | | | | policy that allows students to use their phones at |
| reality is, however, that more and more often, teens | | | | certain times during the day, such as between classes |
| are bringing them into the classroom and setting the | | | | or at lunch, while others may say that students may |
| stage for a plethora of problems. Not only is cell phone | | | | use cell phones only after school when communicating |
| use at many schools prohibited during school hours, but | | | | with parents about extracurricular activities. As an |
| use of text messaging during class sets the stage for | | | | educator, you must be aware of the policies of your |
| distraction from the tasks at hand, academic | | | | district and follow those guidelines. |
| dishonesty, and even bullying. Depending on your | | | | In Your Classroom |
| school's particular policy, you may need to talk to your | | | | Most school systems allow teachers to establish their |
| students about your own personal rules regarding cell | | | | own set of rules for their classrooms, as long as those |
| phone usage in your classroom, even if you cannot | | | | rules don't impede any rules that have been set out by |
| change the rules about having cell phones on campus. | | | | the board. In districts where the rules on cell phone |
| Disadvantages of Cellular Phones during School Hours | | | | usage during school hours are lax, you are well within |
| Although it is certainly debatable, cell phones have a lot | | | | your limits to disallow the use of cell phones in your |
| of negative implications for use during school hours. As | | | | own classroom. Like any other "toy", you do not have |
| mentioned above, cell phones are (in a best case | | | | to allow your students to play while they are supposed |
| scenario) a distraction from the learning process. Most | | | | to be engaged in learning. Set your rules and stick to |
| teens have one and stay "plugged" in 24/7/365. It is | | | | them. Many teachers will confiscate the cell phone and |
| the first thing they reach for when they roll out of bed, | | | | turn it into the office if they catch a student texting or |
| and they stay hooked to it the entire day. This can | | | | otherwise using the phone during the class period. |
| present a real problem when your lecture on | | | | Then the parent must come to school and retrieve the |
| polynomials is being sidetracked by continual text | | | | device. This is a great way to put a halt to the |
| messages popping up on their phones. Cell phones can | | | | problem, as most parents are not too happy to make |
| also be used for the purpose of academic dishonesty | | | | a special trip to school because their child was busy |
| when students' text answers back and forth to one | | | | texting instead of paying attention - and thus parents |
| another during a test. And in some instances, they are | | | | are more willing to cooperate with your efforts to |
| used for cyber bullying of other students in school, | | | | stave off this increasingly bad habit from their end. |
| which opens up a whole new can of worms | | | | No matter how you choose to deal with the cellular |
| altogether. | | | | phone debacle, remember to set a good example. If |
| District Rules | | | | students observe you texting often, then they are |
| There is a wide variety of policies when it comes to | | | | going to assume that it is okay to do so themselves. |
| cell phone usage. Some districts simply ban them | | | | Monkey see, monkey do - so don't. |