DCI: Too much focus on tablets/devices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My thought, as a school administrator, is that preventing middle schoolers from accessing their devices during lunch and recess is unrealistic. Schools that attempt to do so either end up enforcing the rules randomly, which opens them up complaints of unequal treatment. Or they have policies that are in writing but not enforced, which sends the message to the kids that school rules can be ignored. Whichever way they go, the amount of teacher and administrator time that is spent enforcing, or negotiating, or explaining the rules is enormous and cuts into other important parts of a school mission.

Sheesh I'm glad you're not the administrator at my DS middle school! They have it figured out quite well, and it appears easily done. They simply require all personal electronics in lockers during the school day and confiscate them if they are ever seen. I think retrieval requires parental inconvenience I'm sorry, but it's not rocket science. And it IS really important for chidden to have some imaginative space which is not formatted and controlled by scenarios and constructs devised by software developers!

Schools that have a "no cell phones, but only if we catch you" policy are basically teaching kids how to lie and hide things. Kids still use cell phones in schools that don't allow them to be out. They lock themselves in toilet stalls, and text under their desks, and spend long periods "looking for things" in their backpacks. When you allow cell phones they aren't using them substantially more, they're just using them more publicly, which makes it easier for the adults to monitor, and more likely that they'll be using them in a social context.

And sorry, but no kid is having "imaginative space" in the lunch room. They just aren't. If you want that for your kid then confiscate their cell phone at the door of your house, and cut back on the aftercare activities.

I think whatever school you people are representing needs to spend some time learning best practices in how to maintain standards and school culture from some schools that have done it succesfully. Obviously your school has other priorities than limiting cell phone use by middle school students during the school day. Schools that make it a priority--along with other standards of behavior--are able to do it. Parents have every right to know about and react positively or negatively to this aspect of a school.

+1
This is all true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My thought, as a school administrator, is that preventing middle schoolers from accessing their devices during lunch and recess is unrealistic. Schools that attempt to do so either end up enforcing the rules randomly, which opens them up complaints of unequal treatment. Or they have policies that are in writing but not enforced, which sends the message to the kids that school rules can be ignored. Whichever way they go, the amount of teacher and administrator time that is spent enforcing, or negotiating, or explaining the rules is enormous and cuts into other important parts of a school mission.

Sheesh I'm glad you're not the administrator at my DS middle school! They have it figured out quite well, and it appears easily done. They simply require all personal electronics in lockers during the school day and confiscate them if they are ever seen. I think retrieval requires parental inconvenience I'm sorry, but it's not rocket science. And it IS really important for chidden to have some imaginative space which is not formatted and controlled by scenarios and constructs devised by software developers!

Schools that have a "no cell phones, but only if we catch you" policy are basically teaching kids how to lie and hide things. Kids still use cell phones in schools that don't allow them to be out. They lock themselves in toilet stalls, and text under their desks, and spend long periods "looking for things" in their backpacks. When you allow cell phones they aren't using them substantially more, they're just using them more publicly, which makes it easier for the adults to monitor, and more likely that they'll be using them in a social context.


And sorry, but no kid is having "imaginative space" in the lunch room. They just aren't. If you want that for your kid then confiscate their cell phone at the door of your house, and cut back on the aftercare activities.

+1
This is all true.

I think whatever school you people are representing needs to spend some time learning best practices in how to maintain standards and school culture from some schools that have done it succesfully. Obviously your school has other priorities than limiting cell phone use by middle school students during the school day. Schools that make it a priority--along with other standards of behavior--are able to do it. Parents have every right to know about and react positively or negatively to this aspect of a school.

[Anonymous]

Parents who attend the next info session, please share any information about changes the school is considering. TIA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My thought, as a school administrator, is that preventing middle schoolers from accessing their devices during lunch and recess is unrealistic. Schools that attempt to do so either end up enforcing the rules randomly, which opens them up complaints of unequal treatment. Or they have policies that are in writing but not enforced, which sends the message to the kids that school rules can be ignored. Whichever way they go, the amount of teacher and administrator time that is spent enforcing, or negotiating, or explaining the rules is enormous and cuts into other important parts of a school mission.

Sheesh I'm glad you're not the administrator at my DS middle school! They have it figured out quite well, and it appears easily done. They simply require all personal electronics in lockers during the school day and confiscate them if they are ever seen. I think retrieval requires parental inconvenience I'm sorry, but it's not rocket science. And it IS really important for chidden to have some imaginative space which is not formatted and controlled by scenarios and constructs devised by software developers!

Schools that have a "no cell phones, but only if we catch you" policy are basically teaching kids how to lie and hide things. Kids still use cell phones in schools that don't allow them to be out. They lock themselves in toilet stalls, and text under their desks, and spend long periods "looking for things" in their backpacks. When you allow cell phones they aren't using them substantially more, they're just using them more publicly, which makes it easier for the adults to monitor, and more likely that they'll be using them in a social context.


And sorry, but no kid is having "imaginative space" in the lunch room. They just aren't. If you want that for your kid then confiscate their cell phone at the door of your house, and cut back on the aftercare activities.

+1
This is all true.

I think whatever school you people are representing needs to spend some time learning best practices in how to maintain standards and school culture from some schools that have done it succesfully. Obviously your school has other priorities than limiting cell phone use by middle school students during the school day. Schools that make it a priority--along with other standards of behavior--are able to do it. Parents have every right to know about and react positively or negatively to this aspect of a school.

DP, totally agree with you. The "it's not the school's job/schools are incapable of limiting tech use at lunch" poster has apparently not spent time in schools that understand how to do this - and the IMPORTANCE of doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My thought, as a school administrator, is that preventing middle schoolers from accessing their devices during lunch and recess is unrealistic. Schools that attempt to do so either end up enforcing the rules randomly, which opens them up complaints of unequal treatment. Or they have policies that are in writing but not enforced, which sends the message to the kids that school rules can be ignored. Whichever way they go, the amount of teacher and administrator time that is spent enforcing, or negotiating, or explaining the rules is enormous and cuts into other important parts of a school mission.

Sheesh I'm glad you're not the administrator at my DS middle school! They have it figured out quite well, and it appears easily done. They simply require all personal electronics in lockers during the school day and confiscate them if they are ever seen. I think retrieval requires parental inconvenience I'm sorry, but it's not rocket science. And it IS really important for chidden to have some imaginative space which is not formatted and controlled by scenarios and constructs devised by software developers!

Schools that have a "no cell phones, but only if we catch you" policy are basically teaching kids how to lie and hide things. Kids still use cell phones in schools that don't allow them to be out. They lock themselves in toilet stalls, and text under their desks, and spend long periods "looking for things" in their backpacks. When you allow cell phones they aren't using them substantially more, they're just using them more publicly, which makes it easier for the adults to monitor, and more likely that they'll be using them in a social context.


And sorry, but no kid is having "imaginative space" in the lunch room. They just aren't. If you want that for your kid then confiscate their cell phone at the door of your house, and cut back on the aftercare activities.

+1
This is all true.

I think whatever school you people are representing needs to spend some time learning best practices in how to maintain standards and school culture from some schools that have done it succesfully. Obviously your school has other priorities than limiting cell phone use by middle school students during the school day. Schools that make it a priority--along with other standards of behavior--are able to do it. Parents have every right to know about and react positively or negatively to this aspect of a school.

Can you name one of these schools that is supposedly doing a great job on this issue, and tell what your role at that school is, that would let you see the inner workings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My thought, as a school administrator, is that preventing middle schoolers from accessing their devices during lunch and recess is unrealistic. Schools that attempt to do so either end up enforcing the rules randomly, which opens them up complaints of unequal treatment. Or they have policies that are in writing but not enforced, which sends the message to the kids that school rules can be ignored. Whichever way they go, the amount of teacher and administrator time that is spent enforcing, or negotiating, or explaining the rules is enormous and cuts into other important parts of a school mission.

Sheesh I'm glad you're not the administrator at my DS middle school! They have it figured out quite well, and it appears easily done. They simply require all personal electronics in lockers during the school day and confiscate them if they are ever seen. I think retrieval requires parental inconvenience I'm sorry, but it's not rocket science. And it IS really important for chidden to have some imaginative space which is not formatted and controlled by scenarios and constructs devised by software developers!

Schools that have a "no cell phones, but only if we catch you" policy are basically teaching kids how to lie and hide things. Kids still use cell phones in schools that don't allow them to be out. They lock themselves in toilet stalls, and text under their desks, and spend long periods "looking for things" in their backpacks. When you allow cell phones they aren't using them substantially more, they're just using them more publicly, which makes it easier for the adults to monitor, and more likely that they'll be using them in a social context.


And sorry, but no kid is having "imaginative space" in the lunch room. They just aren't. If you want that for your kid then confiscate their cell phone at the door of your house, and cut back on the aftercare activities.

+1
This is all true.

I think whatever school you people are representing needs to spend some time learning best practices in how to maintain standards and school culture from some schools that have done it succesfully. Obviously your school has other priorities than limiting cell phone use by middle school students during the school day. Schools that make it a priority--along with other standards of behavior--are able to do it. Parents have every right to know about and react positively or negatively to this aspect of a school.

Can you name one of these schools that is supposedly doing a great job on this issue, and tell what your role at that school is, that would let you see the inner workings?

Not the person you're replying to, but I supposed it would also help if you provided the same info: what is your role or experience in middle schools that you're so sure that there are NONE where the "no cell phone" policy works? Also, what is your role that allows you to see the "inner workings" (your words) that kids are learning to lie and hide the phones and are all still using them? Which schools?

[Anonymous]

I am a current DCI parent of the 7th grader. While they have only been two (2) technology meetings, this topic is always brought up at the parent workshops. This issue is a work in progress. I understand that 40 something students out of 206 is not a huge number but the administration is working to get all students involved in some social activities during brunch and lunch. They are working to engaged those students. Each quarter they add more activities during that time period based on student interest. They physically walk around and talk to students to see how they can get them engaged and/or send then to an activity.

During lunch they have a multitude of clubs and study halls that meet on any given day. I have listed a few below. My son does Math study hall, cooking, chess, and outdoor activities (when the weather permits). Some clubs meet more than once per week.

Tips to the Library Trip
Student Government
Dog walking
Outside Athletics
Costume Design Club
Language Clubs (Spanish, French, and Chinese)
Chess
Cooking Club
Math Club/Olympiad
Geography Club
Guys Read
Book Club

As I think back to middle school and high school, there was always a small number of students who were not particularly engaged or very social.

As a parent I am very pleased with progression that my son has made concerning his use of technology. He was one the students who loved to be his chromebook when he first received it. Now he doesn't even touch it unless he's doing his homework. Additionally. we go to the library and check out whatever book they are reading in English class so they he can read the hard copy.

This is his first year having his own phone (smartphone). The administration took his phone twice during the first two (2) months of school. Now he barely touches it during the school day. He has used it take pictures on occasion but generally keeps it in his book bag. At home we have electronic daily breaks (no computers/cell phone time). Upon arriving home he completes his homework and his phone is usually on the charger in the kitchen by 7pm.

Some parents may not agree with DCI's integrated technology approach and what they consider to be a heavy use of technology but I am learning to find the balance. I believe that DCI working to find what they consider to be a comfortable level.

Overall, I am greatly pleased with the DCI curriculum and staff. I look forward to seeing what the coming years will bring.

[Anonymous]

^^Thank you, PP! Great update.

[Anonymous]

Thanks 14:09, glad your kid has found balance. But I still don't understand why DCI feels allowing screens at are during mealtime is necessary. Every piece of literature argues against this, especially for this age group. Yes, parents can tell their kids not to engage but I question the philosophy behind allowing it in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Another Feeder DCI parent who will not go to DCI now. I bet you the admin.'s stance will change when they find that they don't have any students. Too bad! My DC will continue in his feeder school until 5th and we'll likely move to Mongtomery County for their language immersion middle school.

[Anonymous]

I sincerely doubt there will be a shortage of students. That is kind of laughable, actually.

[Anonymous]

I am sure DCI will have plenty of students but the school will also lose a lot of committed, engaged parents who would stay if the school would moderate their approach and find a better balance.

To the PP, thanks for the detailed account of school life. Really appreciated it. I think my DC would take advantage of the clubs which sound great. However, I still am not comfortable with the idea of DC spending so much time in front of a screen. Sadly, we will be looking at other options for MS


BTW, how hard is it to get into an immersion middle school in MoCo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another Feeder DCI parent who will not go to DCI now. I bet you the admin.'s stance will change when they find that they don't have any students. Too bad! My DC will continue in his feeder school until 5th and we'll likely move to Mongtomery County for their language immersion middle school.

No lottery needed for the mcps?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sincerely doubt there will be a shortage of students. That is kind of laughable, actually.

I'm glad you think it's laughable. I don't. I think that if large numbers of parents with qualified students (those fluent in Spanish, French or Chinese) decide to go elsewhere it'll be a huge letdown for the school and could affect the quality of the program. Seats could get filled, but because the school can't give preference to fluent speakers of the target languages, seats will possibly largely go to kids that aren't qualified. They may be smart kids wanting to learn another language, but what would those types of students do in classes where the target language is the language of instruction for content? Kind of defeat's DCI's purpose. That said, I hope the school finds a way to address this very concerning issue of too much technology. I'm a feeder parent as well and have decided DCI will not work for our family. We're also looking at immersion programs outside of DC proper. The pickings are slim, but there are some options and we'd rather take those than experiment with our kids middle/high school experience.

[Anonymous]

bye bye! don't let the door hit you on your way out!