In California, a high school teacher complains that students watch Netflix on their phones during class. In Maryland, a chemistry teacher says students use gambling apps to place bets during the school day.
Around the country, educators say students routinely send Snapchat messages in class, listen to music and shop online, among countless other examples of how smartphones distract from teaching and learning.
The hold that phones have on adolescents in America today is well-documented, but teachers say parents are often not aware to what extent students use them inside the classroom. And increasingly, educators and experts are speaking with one voice on the question of how to handle it: Ban phones during classes.
Why were tamagotchis and gameboys and cellphones banned in class when I was growing up but not these days?
My school banned cd and mp3 players even. Was annoying because my bus ride to school was a little over an hour.
It’s a cultural shift. everyone in the world now uses technology at all times (even adults, in the past it was only the kids glued to phones). So the problem isn’t actually schools, but the world.
I think there are a few reasons
We all use cellphones in the real world, so it’s important kids do in school so they’re not at a disadvantage.
It’s how the parents stay in contact with their kids. If they text their children they don’t want to wait till school is over for the response.
It lets the parents spy on the kids (If my tamagotchi alerted my mother every time I tried to masturbate, she’d probably insist I keep it on me at all times).
It’s good for a distraction and keeps kids from acting out in class due to boredom.
It’s how the parents stay in contact with their kids. If they text their children they don’t want to wait till school is over for the response.
What need is there to stay in permanent contact with your kid while it is in school? Outside of emergencies, there is literally nothing you can ask them that will change their schedule until school is over.
Convenience, peace of mind, etc.
Having immediate instant access to your child is a convenience adults don’t want to give up.
“Hey son, do you know where that USB stick I loaned you last night wound up? I need it for a presentation.”
“Can you pick your little sister up from soccer practice on your way home from school? Work is asking me to stay late”
“Hey honey, I’m not going to be able to pick you up today, can you see if your friend Brandon can give you a ride?”
I thought of these, and dozens of other examples, in seconds. There are many, MANY possible reasons why a parent might want to get in touch with their kid and get an answer. I feel like anyone who isn’t a complete dumbass would be able to see that.
If my tamagotchi alerted my mother every time I tried to masturbate, she’d probably insist I keep it on me at all times
That’s weird man, why would your mum want to know when you wank?
