Banning and confiscating phones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am OP, I am screen addicted and know this and it’s not good.

I also want to be in touch with my kids if I need to and the phones are for their safety, which is why they have phones. I have told them, drilled into them and shared my expectations that they are not to use their phones during class time. They can during the transition periods, lunch, before, and after school, etc. So if a teacher catches them with their phones. I would be OK with the phones been confiscated. Or even limiting cell phone used to before or after school or lunch.

I am pro consequences when kids break rules and classroom expectations. And if the school band phones, then I can get on board. My question really does stem from the contributing factor that phones are playing in drugs, fights, and bullying at school.

I have two kids in HS. A lot of teachers don't care if the kids use the phones. So, if you are relying on your kid's honor system to not use their phone during class, well... I got a bridge to sell you.

THIS. This is an enormous problem. It has absolutely shocked me and one of the top reasons I would not recommend MCPS high schools. Kids are constantly on phones during class. Constantly. My high schooler has one teacher only who does not allow phone use. It is rampant otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am OP, I am screen addicted and know this and it’s not good.

I also want to be in touch with my kids if I need to and the phones are for their safety, which is why they have phones. I have told them, drilled into them and shared my expectations that they are not to use their phones during class time. They can during the transition periods, lunch, before, and after school, etc. So if a teacher catches them with their phones. I would be OK with the phones been confiscated. Or even limiting cell phone used to before or after school or lunch.

I am pro consequences when kids break rules and classroom expectations. And if the school band phones, then I can get on board. My question really does stem from the contributing factor that phones are playing in drugs, fights, and bullying at school.

I have two kids in HS. A lot of teachers don't care if the kids use the phones. So, if you are relying on your kid's honor system to not use their phone during class, well... I got a bridge to sell you.

THIS. This is an enormous problem. It has absolutely shocked me and one of the top reasons I would not recommend MCPS high schools. Kids are constantly on phones during class. Constantly. My high schooler has one teacher only who does not allow phone use. It is rampant otherwise.

It isn't the teacher's job to stop your kid from daydreaming either. If your kid isn't interested in school, that's kind of on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kinda s/o to the fights and drugs threads.

Can the county ban cell phones in schools? I went to high school in the 90s and electronics were banned like beepers and the old brick cell phones. If somebody had a beeper, it would be confiscated and returned at the end of the day.

MCPS doesn't have the authority to confiscate personal property, nor should they have to especially to placate some crazies.

DP.. they don't have to confiscate it. They can use the pouches.

But, you are incorrect in stating that they don't have the right to confiscate personal property. If they bring something that is unsafe, they can take it away.

If you make it so that a teacher cannot confiscate things that they deem are distracting in a classroom, then don't complain if your kids are getting bad grades or other kids are disrupting the class. You keep cutting of teacher's ability to control a classroom. This plus restorative justice is not helping.

It's no wonder why some kids just do whatever the heck they want in schools. They know nothing will happen to them.

If someone took my phone, I'd report the the theft to the police. They don't have the right to do this. We don't live in a police state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am OP, I am screen addicted and know this and it’s not good.

I also want to be in touch with my kids if I need to and the phones are for their safety, which is why they have phones. I have told them, drilled into them and shared my expectations that they are not to use their phones during class time. They can during the transition periods, lunch, before, and after school, etc. So if a teacher catches them with their phones. I would be OK with the phones been confiscated. Or even limiting cell phone used to before or after school or lunch.

I am pro consequences when kids break rules and classroom expectations. And if the school band phones, then I can get on board. My question really does stem from the contributing factor that phones are playing in drugs, fights, and bullying at school.

I have two kids in HS. A lot of teachers don't care if the kids use the phones. So, if you are relying on your kid's honor system to not use their phone during class, well... I got a bridge to sell you.

THIS. This is an enormous problem. It has absolutely shocked me and one of the top reasons I would not recommend MCPS high schools. Kids are constantly on phones during class. Constantly. My high schooler has one teacher only who does not allow phone use. It is rampant otherwise.

It isn't the teacher's job to stop your kid from daydreaming either. If your kid isn't interested in school, that's kind of on them.

If you think daydreaming and what's happening with phones in the classroom are remotely the same thing, there's no way I believe you've set foot in a classroom recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am OP, I am screen addicted and know this and it’s not good.

I also want to be in touch with my kids if I need to and the phones are for their safety, which is why they have phones. I have told them, drilled into them and shared my expectations that they are not to use their phones during class time. They can during the transition periods, lunch, before, and after school, etc. So if a teacher catches them with their phones. I would be OK with the phones been confiscated. Or even limiting cell phone used to before or after school or lunch.

I am pro consequences when kids break rules and classroom expectations. And if the school band phones, then I can get on board. My question really does stem from the contributing factor that phones are playing in drugs, fights, and bullying at school.

I have two kids in HS. A lot of teachers don't care if the kids use the phones. So, if you are relying on your kid's honor system to not use their phone during class, well... I got a bridge to sell you.

THIS. This is an enormous problem. It has absolutely shocked me and one of the top reasons I would not recommend MCPS high schools. Kids are constantly on phones during class. Constantly. My high schooler has one teacher only who does not allow phone use. It is rampant otherwise.

It isn't the teacher's job to stop your kid from daydreaming either. If your kid isn't interested in school, that's kind of on them.

If you think daydreaming and what's happening with phones in the classroom are remotely the same thing, there's no way I believe you've set foot in a classroom recently.

Who cares. If your kids can't focus, that's their problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No way would I send my kid to school without a phone for many reasons as they need it to communicate with us. It’s not like schools have pay phones still.

Our elementary has a free phone in the lobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kinda s/o to the fights and drugs threads.

Can the county ban cell phones in schools? I went to high school in the 90s and electronics were banned like beepers and the old brick cell phones. If somebody had a beeper, it would be confiscated and returned at the end of the day.

MCPS doesn't have the authority to confiscate personal property, nor should they have to especially to placate some crazies.

DP.. they don't have to confiscate it. They can use the pouches.

But, you are incorrect in stating that they don't have the right to confiscate personal property. If they bring something that is unsafe, they can take it away.

If you make it so that a teacher cannot confiscate things that they deem are distracting in a classroom, then don't complain if your kids are getting bad grades or other kids are disrupting the class. You keep cutting of teacher's ability to control a classroom. This plus restorative justice is not helping.

It's no wonder why some kids just do whatever the heck they want in schools. They know nothing will happen to them.

If someone took my phone, I'd report the the theft to the police. They don't have the right to do this. We don't live in a police state.

You live in a society. Society has schools. You can't bring your gun into a courtroom either. Boo hoo for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kinda s/o to the fights and drugs threads.

Can the county ban cell phones in schools? I went to high school in the 90s and electronics were banned like beepers and the old brick cell phones. If somebody had a beeper, it would be confiscated and returned at the end of the day.

MCPS doesn't have the authority to confiscate personal property, nor should they have to especially to placate some crazies.

DP.. they don't have to confiscate it. They can use the pouches.

But, you are incorrect in stating that they don't have the right to confiscate personal property. If they bring something that is unsafe, they can take it away.

If you make it so that a teacher cannot confiscate things that they deem are distracting in a classroom, then don't complain if your kids are getting bad grades or other kids are disrupting the class. You keep cutting of teacher's ability to control a classroom. This plus restorative justice is not helping.

It's no wonder why some kids just do whatever the heck they want in schools. They know nothing will happen to them.

If someone took my phone, I'd report the the theft to the police. They don't have the right to do this. We don't live in a police state.

You live in a society. Society has schools. You can't bring your gun into a courtroom either. Boo hoo for you.

This is the entirety of the problem. My "Jimmy" has every right to his phone and nobody can take it from him. Even if it means a substantial change for the better to the learning environment for the entire student population. If you want "Jimmy" to go to school, he has to comply with the rules.

[Anonymous]

You can't use your phone when you're going through customs, either. Schools get to impose rules, too. Kids enjoy the break from phones as well, by the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kinda s/o to the fights and drugs threads.

Can the county ban cell phones in schools? I went to high school in the 90s and electronics were banned like beepers and the old brick cell phones. If somebody had a beeper, it would be confiscated and returned at the end of the day.

MCPS doesn't have the authority to confiscate personal property, nor should they have to especially to placate some crazies.

DP.. they don't have to confiscate it. They can use the pouches.

But, you are incorrect in stating that they don't have the right to confiscate personal property. If they bring something that is unsafe, they can take it away.

If you make it so that a teacher cannot confiscate things that they deem are distracting in a classroom, then don't complain if your kids are getting bad grades or other kids are disrupting the class. You keep cutting of teacher's ability to control a classroom. This plus restorative justice is not helping.

It's no wonder why some kids just do whatever the heck they want in schools. They know nothing will happen to them.

If someone took my phone, I'd report the the theft to the police. They don't have the right to do this. We don't live in a police state.

You live in a society. Society has schools. You can't bring your gun into a courtroom either. Boo hoo for you.

This is the entirety of the problem. My "Jimmy" has every right to his phone and nobody can take it from him. Even if it means a substantial change for the better to the learning environment for the entire student population. If you want "Jimmy" to go to school, he has to comply with the rules.

Because American parents are entitled and self-centered to the detriment of the greater good and the community.

Unfortunately, you can't change that. The best you can hope for is that those people end up as the minority and the majority who vote and engage in the policies and management of public schools think and behave otherwise. Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way would I send my kid to school without a phone for many reasons as they need it to communicate with us. It’s not like schools have pay phones still.

why can't your kid send you a quick email on the rare occasion they NEED to communicate with you? I'm baffled.

You cannot send your child an email on an MCPS computer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't use your phone when you're going through customs, either. Schools get to impose rules, too. Kids enjoy the break from phones as well, by the way.

Personally, I haven't been through customs in years so it's a non-issue. As a parent, it's my responsibility to control and monitor the phone. See how that works. Its easy to lock it down or shut it off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They absolutely should be. There is no reason for any kids to have cell phones during the school day

But too many screen addicted parents will say no. It is needed for their safety. The irony

So you diss parents who care about safety? Students need to learn to self-monitor themselves. They can't use that if you try to send them back to the 1990s by taking away potential distractions.

Maybe your child doesn't use cell phones during the day for class, but mine does. Teacher have asked them to bring cell phones for world language and for some STEM classes. It's part of the environment, and they need to learn how to use them as tools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't use your phone when you're going through customs, either. Schools get to impose rules, too. Kids enjoy the break from phones as well, by the way.

Personally, I haven't been through customs in years so it's a non-issue. As a parent, it's my responsibility to control and monitor the phone. See how that works. Its easy to lock it down or shut it off.

How are you monitoring and controlling your kids' phone usage when they are in class?

There are a lot of things kids cannot bring to school, like if they little Jimmy wanted to bring his ps4, the school would confiscate it and return it at the end of the day.

I stated earlier, they can use phone pouches, so your little snowflake won't have their phones taken away; they just won't be able to use it unless the teacher unlocks the pouch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No way would I send my kid to school without a phone for many reasons as they need it to communicate with us. It’s not like schools have pay phones still.

This. We had a lockdown at my kid’s school. I check her screen time and she is a responsible phone user at school.

Leave my kid alone.

Focus on the actual issues.