I have recently discovered the Antigo High School’s newspaper, The Antigonian, online and have found some interesting reading. I was pretty surprised to read that the students are now allowed to text and use their mobile phones during school hours. You can read the full article HERE. I understand that the policies make it allowable during lunch and passing time. I have some mixed feelings about this, as I am sure others will also.
Not too long ago, within the last 5 years, I can actually recall having to physically go to the school to pick up my daughter’s cellphone from the Principal’s Office because she had been caught using it during school hours. The policy then was that cellphones were considered drug paraphernalia, and if students were caught with them during school, they would be confiscated.
What has happened in more recent years that would bring such a turn around in the schools policy? Not only are they allowing this usage, but, they even provide school-wide free wifi access, as though it is being promoted. I feel that school should be just that, school, a place for studying and learning. Is there really a need for texting or posting to facebook during school hours? I am curious as to what other adults think about this…
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This was the brainchild of our illustrious District Administrator. Apparently a suitable learning enviroment is not nearly as important as popularity points when trying pass yet another doomed referendum. By the way, I hope the fancy new phone system at the high school is doing as good of a job educating our students as the 9.4 teachers they eliminated last year would have.
I view cell phones much as I do guns. They can be as good or bad as the person is. I absolutely like the idea of being able to get ahold of my son at least once a day.
What do you think they are texting? The answers, DUH! Kids also need to focus on instruction in the classroom…cell phones are a huge distraction. Where I teach, the students are allowed to carry a phone but it must be powered off and left in the locker during school. We also have the confiscation policy. Works for me.
No wonder our kids today aren’t learning! No kid needs a cell phone in class….we never even HAD cell phones when I was in school. Whoever is allowing this is an idiot.
If you need to getg a hold of your son, call the school office. If he is in class like he’s supposed to be, they know where he is and have a direct line to him.
Ida, the fact that you did not HAVE a cell phone when you were in school is irrelevent. I do agree with you that letting TODAYS students bring cell phones into class is idiotic.
My two cents . . . I think the students should be able to carry their phones with them but they should be turned off during classes. I see no reason they should be put in lockers or left in the office or at home. If an emergency came up, I would want my child to be able to get in touch with me.
I can remember the day that people said that using calculators in class would make people stupid. Now they’re mandatory.
How do you suggest teahcers enforce “turned off during classes?” Just curious. More distractions as the teacher takes instructional time to find out whose phone is ringing and then taking it away. Trust me, if you let students carry them, they will be ringing.
Not only do most modern schools have laptops instead of books, but they have phone jammers as well.
Not only does AHS not have phone jammers, they have WIFI that they encourage the students to use on their phones, Ipods, and tablets. Of course they trust the students to only do this at appropriate times.
@maybe so: calculators have made us stupid; most people I know can’t even do the simplest mathematical operations in their heads. The reason they are mandatory is because someone has conditioned our society to think that rote memorization of basic facts is somehow an ineffective way to learn.
Cell phone jammers are technically illegal. You can’t knowingly jam a commercial service. Even if the device is part 15 accepted, and even if you own that property. If such devices are installed, report them to the cell phone companies and the FCC..
You CAN easily design a structure to block cell phone signals from going into the building.. Using think metal siding, and steel frame. That is legal.
One problem though, teachers enjoy the luxury of cell phones.
Not Politically Correct, my point on not having a cell phone while in school is, we got along just fine without them. If there was an emergency, the school would make the calls. I’m just sayin’, they are not a necessity in school, that’s all.
Due to the amount of information that is gathered via the media, now the web as well as TV and radio, children can gain much by using the internet as a tool for learning. I do not however, believe that personal texting and such should be done during school time. If they are using the computer for a referrance medium that’s fine. The only way is to supervise the computer lab. Making sure there’s no emailing and “fun” stuff going on during school time. Just as if a child is using his or her phone, a teacher should confront them. If it isn’t a call/text with their parent or guardian, (teacher should check this) the phone should be confiscated til the end of the day. Contact between parents and children should be able to be done through the office anyway, it seemed to be a better deterrant for truancy. Just my thoughts on it…
This is very sad, but, true, my daughter got to her 2nd year in college without knowing how to do long division! She went to Antigo elementary and High Schools. So, maybe calculators should not be allowed, at least not until the teacher is certain that the student can do the work without one.
its not so much texting personal stuff. What about taking pictures of a test paper? or using the cell phone as a way to cheat? Or using the phone to video record a teacher yelling at a student, then posting it on a social media website?
If a teacher is yelling at a student they should be reprimanded!!
Obviously their teaching practices are flawed.
Cell phones and Facebook are used a lot for bullying behavior and drug deals, too.
If teachers are on cell phones during class they should be written up. Ever wonder how many teachers use email for personal mail during school?? Tons. I’ve seen it while volunteering and have been the recipient of their email during school hours!!!
Man, I thought I disliked teachers.
If a teacher is yelling at a student, that student most likely deserves it.
There is absolutely no reason for cell phones in schools. Install a pay phone. Take a look at kid message boards and all of the cheating and other devious uses they come up with for cell phones in school.
And yes, Ida- we all got along fine without cell phones in schools. That just proves they’re not a necessity.
I survived without having to be in a car seat as a child too…..does that mean kids souldn’t be in them now?
Things have changed from when we were growing up and we have to change along with them. Parents are working longer and different hours and kids schedules are more hectic too.
As a single mom, I am happy that my child is able to check her cell phone in her free time at school. I can now send her a text changing the location of where I will pick her up or let her know that I will be late. Believe me, if there is ever any inkling that her phone is being used inappropriately, I will be the first to implement consequences or go along with the schools punishment.
As for teachers and personal emails……if it is not inappropriate email and it is not interfering with their teaching who really gives a rip? I think the extras that they do on any given day even out for a few personal emails.
I always thought that the idea of children having cell phones was ridiculous but now I have a child who will be alone after school for a few hours so I had to get them a cell phone. I encourage that child to take the phone to school so that if anything happens on the way home they can reach me and they are instucted to call me asap when they get home. Also, if we have an emergency during the day, I will be calling the cell phone, school hours or not.
Funny how the shoe looks on the other foot…