And they say that teachers are out of touch????
About the only reason that I currently Tivo the CBS Evening News is the section called Free Speech, where all kinds of people, from Rush Limbaugh to Morgan Spurlock, take 30 seconds to spew forth a stream of quick consciousness.
Tonight, my wife and I were fixing dinner as we listened to the segment, only to bug our eyes out in surprise and make comments like, "Wow, what an absolute idiot". The segment was hosted by Joanne Lessner, a singer and writer from New York, and explained why her ideals as a mother superseded all the issues around the use of cell phones by students in schools. It could have been the most naive thing I've ever heard on public television.
Her thesis is that September 11, 2001 has now forced every child in America to consider themselves targets in the War on Terror, and cell phones are that shield against Al Qaeda.
I don't know what is worse; using 9/11 as an excuse for cell phones, or the fact that Lessner pointed out American children as targets of terrorists, and using that as a reason to have a cell phone. First of all Joanne, the next time a student brings his/her phone to school, has it go off in class, and states that he his testing his ringer in case of a terrorist attack, will be the first time. Hate to break it to you, but kids are text messaging, calling friends, and listening to MP3's, with little or no concern about the next 9/11. This argumentreeks onaivetety, with a hint of "fight the power"ism, and a handful of stupidity.
Hate to break it to you honey, but most states do not ban cell phones on campus. California has made it a law that they must be allowed on the person while at school. It is also obvious that Lessner has spent more time writing lousy novels than sitting in a classroom. Cell phones have become a functioning problem at schools, although they are certainly not the root of all evil. I have watched students scam tests, text drug deals, and make themselves a hugnuisancece by putting their focus on cell phones, not academics. Want to know how many phones I've taken in this, the third week of school? Nine. If it isn't phones going off in the middle of class, it's students that have to check the vibrating messenger to see which girlfriend called them. When I catch them, the answer is always the same, "My mom called me." Really? At 10:30 in the morning every week? Let me make it perfectly clear that when I was 17 years the last thing I wanted was Mommy and Daddy checking up on me at school. Either the kid has serious security issues or they are lying. Surprise! Students do lie!
Obviously we don't have a Mensa meeting leader here. Sure, let's partner the city and a cell phone manufacturer (whose contract will be through the roof) to make a cell phone that no kid will ever buy (yet cost the school billions). Yeah! And then schools across the country can loose money, and still have regular cell phones on campus! God knows, I see kids lining up for school t-shirts like crazy. Cell phones, here we come! Unbelievable.
And here is an example why education is absolutely NOT a priority for Americans. Let me translate for you.
"I could care less for the rules of the school. The whole lot of them can kiss my ass. Phones rule."
Oh, Mr. President? Ms. Spellings? Anyone else out there that thinks that all teaching goes on at school? Are you getting this? Can we finally put a little accountability on the parents here?
FYI. At my classroom, there are four-five pay phones on campus, and regular phones in every classroom, and a couple for student use in the office.
Never mind that cell phones didn't work during 9/11. Never mind that parents are acting out against Education like idiots (we've had parents come in and complain that teachers won't let kids talk to parents on cell phones during class). Never mind that parents are not held to the accountability as teachers. Just remember, the cell phone will make it all better.
Update 9/20
Cool!
My first post to be used in a somewhat, half-way major media blog. Blogma over at C-Net used my post as a pro-teacher point of view. From the reaction I've recieved, I'm not very popular over at C-Net, whose users seem to think that instead of getting the cell phone out of the classroom, schools should find a way to use them as educational technology. Hey, I'm the biggest supporter of educational technology that you will ever find. Saying that, the idea that teachers need to start looking at cell phones as educational technology is crap. Sure, and I'll be looking at my wall phone (landline) soon after.
Oh yeah, I was quoted at C-Net!!!
Tonight, my wife and I were fixing dinner as we listened to the segment, only to bug our eyes out in surprise and make comments like, "Wow, what an absolute idiot". The segment was hosted by Joanne Lessner, a singer and writer from New York, and explained why her ideals as a mother superseded all the issues around the use of cell phones by students in schools. It could have been the most naive thing I've ever heard on public television.
Her thesis is that September 11, 2001 has now forced every child in America to consider themselves targets in the War on Terror, and cell phones are that shield against Al Qaeda.
There is no way I'm sending my 10-year-old son off to middle school without a phone. 9/11 happened on his second day of kindergarten. So for everyone who says, "kids have been going to school for centuries without cell phones," I would answer, "yes, but they didn't live in a world where they were terrorist targets."
I don't know what is worse; using 9/11 as an excuse for cell phones, or the fact that Lessner pointed out American children as targets of terrorists, and using that as a reason to have a cell phone. First of all Joanne, the next time a student brings his/her phone to school, has it go off in class, and states that he his testing his ringer in case of a terrorist attack, will be the first time. Hate to break it to you, but kids are text messaging, calling friends, and listening to MP3's, with little or no concern about the next 9/11. This argumentreeks onaivetety, with a hint of "fight the power"ism, and a handful of stupidity.
Here in New York, the mayor and the schools chancellor have categorically banned cell phones in schools because they say students use them to cheat on exams, sell drugs, and organize fights. Now I understand the Board of Ed's issue with cell phones, but what they're missing is that the basic function of a telephone is not what's causing problems in the schools
Hate to break it to you honey, but most states do not ban cell phones on campus. California has made it a law that they must be allowed on the person while at school. It is also obvious that Lessner has spent more time writing lousy novels than sitting in a classroom. Cell phones have become a functioning problem at schools, although they are certainly not the root of all evil. I have watched students scam tests, text drug deals, and make themselves a hugnuisancece by putting their focus on cell phones, not academics. Want to know how many phones I've taken in this, the third week of school? Nine. If it isn't phones going off in the middle of class, it's students that have to check the vibrating messenger to see which girlfriend called them. When I catch them, the answer is always the same, "My mom called me." Really? At 10:30 in the morning every week? Let me make it perfectly clear that when I was 17 years the last thing I wanted was Mommy and Daddy checking up on me at school. Either the kid has serious security issues or they are lying. Surprise! Students do lie!
The city should partner with a cell phone manufacturer and design a "city-approved" phone. Its only function would be to make and receive calls. Period. Those phones would be the only ones allowed in the schools. And one other advantage: Cities across the country could make money by selling these phones to students and pour the money back into the schools, which are dying for it.
Obviously we don't have a Mensa meeting leader here. Sure, let's partner the city and a cell phone manufacturer (whose contract will be through the roof) to make a cell phone that no kid will ever buy (yet cost the school billions). Yeah! And then schools across the country can loose money, and still have regular cell phones on campus! God knows, I see kids lining up for school t-shirts like crazy. Cell phones, here we come! Unbelievable.
Until there are working pay phones on every corner and in every school, my son will have a cell phone in his pocket when he goes to school, ban or no ban.
And here is an example why education is absolutely NOT a priority for Americans. Let me translate for you.
"I could care less for the rules of the school. The whole lot of them can kiss my ass. Phones rule."
Oh, Mr. President? Ms. Spellings? Anyone else out there that thinks that all teaching goes on at school? Are you getting this? Can we finally put a little accountability on the parents here?
FYI. At my classroom, there are four-five pay phones on campus, and regular phones in every classroom, and a couple for student use in the office.
Never mind that cell phones didn't work during 9/11. Never mind that parents are acting out against Education like idiots (we've had parents come in and complain that teachers won't let kids talk to parents on cell phones during class). Never mind that parents are not held to the accountability as teachers. Just remember, the cell phone will make it all better.
Update 9/20
Cool!
My first post to be used in a somewhat, half-way major media blog. Blogma over at C-Net used my post as a pro-teacher point of view. From the reaction I've recieved, I'm not very popular over at C-Net, whose users seem to think that instead of getting the cell phone out of the classroom, schools should find a way to use them as educational technology. Hey, I'm the biggest supporter of educational technology that you will ever find. Saying that, the idea that teachers need to start looking at cell phones as educational technology is crap. Sure, and I'll be looking at my wall phone (landline) soon after.
Oh yeah, I was quoted at C-Net!!!
