WaPo: Students can’t get off their phones. Schools have had enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue of teacher safety is really important but I don't see what it has to do with cell phone policies. If you're saying you can't have a cell phone policy because kids might get violent if someone tries to enforce it, then you're essentially saying you can't have any rules or expectations whatsoever. Just let kids do whatever they want.

This is not a "if scenario." Teachers ARE getting assaulted over trying to enforce cell phone bans. It is a reality.

So what do you propose MCPS do to prevent it from happening? Cause until you solve for that, many teachers will smartly make the decision that enforcing the ban is not worth their safety and wellbeing.

What do teachers do when kids get mad over other things? Surely they have a way to deal with it. IT's not that hard to piss off teens and access to phones is just one of a million things to set them off. Or do you suggest we let these kids do whatever they want? Is that safe????

The cell phone has a special hold over kids because it's an addiction. Have you ever tried to separate an addict from their substance of choice? It's not pleasant.

Read up: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/screen-time-over-can-child-stop

https://brisbanekids.com.au/how-to-stop-screen-rage-attacks/

Oh please, if MCPS started and consistently enforced a "no phones in class" policy countywide, there would be a bad month or two, people would adjust and then it would be business as usual (which does not mean 100% perfection of course but it would just be another rule that is more or less followed).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue of teacher safety is really important but I don't see what it has to do with cell phone policies. If you're saying you can't have a cell phone policy because kids might get violent if someone tries to enforce it, then you're essentially saying you can't have any rules or expectations whatsoever. Just let kids do whatever they want.

+100. None of these objections have anything to do with cell phones. Teachers enforce all sorts of rules every class--take out your books, stop talking Mandy, sit down now, no snacking... It seems like some sort of learned helplessness about cell phones--that has less to do with any unique prospect of cell phone-related violence (???) and more to do with the fact that clearly there is no societal consensus on what the rules should be and/or we are all phone addicts now.

So you just ignore the numerous news reports I shared of teachers being attacked over cell phones? That's how you process information? Ignore the things that don't fit your already predetermined viewpoint that teachers can and should be capable of handling everything?

I guess teachers hail from Krypton in your mind because you clearly believe they are Supermen/women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue of teacher safety is really important but I don't see what it has to do with cell phone policies. If you're saying you can't have a cell phone policy because kids might get violent if someone tries to enforce it, then you're essentially saying you can't have any rules or expectations whatsoever. Just let kids do whatever they want.

This is not a "if scenario." Teachers ARE getting assaulted over trying to enforce cell phone bans. It is a reality.

So what do you propose MCPS do to prevent it from happening? Cause until you solve for that, many teachers will smartly make the decision that enforcing the ban is not worth their safety and wellbeing.

What do teachers do when kids get mad over other things? Surely they have a way to deal with it. IT's not that hard to piss off teens and access to phones is just one of a million things to set them off. Or do you suggest we let these kids do whatever they want? Is that safe????

The cell phone has a special hold over kids because it's an addiction. Have you ever tried to separate an addict from their substance of choice? It's not pleasant.

Read up: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/screen-time-over-can-child-stop

https://brisbanekids.com.au/how-to-stop-screen-rage-attacks/

Oh please, if MCPS started and consistently enforced a "no phones in class" policy countywide, there would be a bad month or two, people would adjust and then it would be business as usual (which does not mean 100% perfection of course but it would just be another rule that is more or less followed).

Or another rule that is more or less ignored, which is precisely what's happening in many schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue of teacher safety is really important but I don't see what it has to do with cell phone policies. If you're saying you can't have a cell phone policy because kids might get violent if someone tries to enforce it, then you're essentially saying you can't have any rules or expectations whatsoever. Just let kids do whatever they want.

+100. None of these objections have anything to do with cell phones. Teachers enforce all sorts of rules every class--take out your books, stop talking Mandy, sit down now, no snacking... It seems like some sort of learned helplessness about cell phones--that has less to do with any unique prospect of cell phone-related violence (???) and more to do with the fact that clearly there is no societal consensus on what the rules should be and/or we are all phone addicts now.

So you just ignore the numerous news reports I shared of teachers being attacked over cell phones? That's how you process information? Ignore the things that don't fit your already predetermined viewpoint that teachers can and should be capable of handling everything?

I guess teachers hail from Krypton in your mind because you clearly believe they are Supermen/women.

So what is your solution?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue of teacher safety is really important but I don't see what it has to do with cell phone policies. If you're saying you can't have a cell phone policy because kids might get violent if someone tries to enforce it, then you're essentially saying you can't have any rules or expectations whatsoever. Just let kids do whatever they want.

+100. None of these objections have anything to do with cell phones. Teachers enforce all sorts of rules every class--take out your books, stop talking Mandy, sit down now, no snacking... It seems like some sort of learned helplessness about cell phones--that has less to do with any unique prospect of cell phone-related violence (???) and more to do with the fact that clearly there is no societal consensus on what the rules should be and/or we are all phone addicts now.

So you just ignore the numerous news reports I shared of teachers being attacked over cell phones? That's how you process information? Ignore the things that don't fit your already predetermined viewpoint that teachers can and should be capable of handling everything?

I guess teachers hail from Krypton in your mind because you clearly believe they are Supermen/women.

So what is your solution?

If I had a silver bullet for you, I'd have a job working at MCPS to implement it.

As I said, cell phone use in schools is a tricky, complicated problem with no easy fixes. All of the proposed solutions thus far require tradeoffs that no majority of adults involved in the decision-making process seem willing to make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd happily pay $45K tuition for a school that had no technology in it whatsoever. Throw away all electronic boards, laptops, and tablets. Cancel all subscriptions to portals, educational management systems, and Google classrooms. Make the place a GD Faraday Cage.

That may work for elementary school but by high school they need to be prepared for the real world. It's ironic parents are upset over cell phones when the schools, especially in ES way over use the chromebooks for so called educational games. Teachers need to get back to actual teaching and engage kids so they are paying attention and not bored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue of teacher safety is really important but I don't see what it has to do with cell phone policies. If you're saying you can't have a cell phone policy because kids might get violent if someone tries to enforce it, then you're essentially saying you can't have any rules or expectations whatsoever. Just let kids do whatever they want.

+100. None of these objections have anything to do with cell phones. Teachers enforce all sorts of rules every class--take out your books, stop talking Mandy, sit down now, no snacking... It seems like some sort of learned helplessness about cell phones--that has less to do with any unique prospect of cell phone-related violence (???) and more to do with the fact that clearly there is no societal consensus on what the rules should be and/or we are all phone addicts now.

So you just ignore the numerous news reports I shared of teachers being attacked over cell phones? That's how you process information? Ignore the things that don't fit your already predetermined viewpoint that teachers can and should be capable of handling everything?

I guess teachers hail from Krypton in your mind because you clearly believe they are Supermen/women.

So what is your solution?

If I had a silver bullet for you, I'd have a job working at MCPS to implement it.

As I said, cell phone use in schools is a tricky, complicated problem with no easy fixes. All of the proposed solutions thus far require tradeoffs that no majority of adults involved in the decision-making process seem willing to make.

But you seem so adamant that teachers are not to interfere with students' cell phone use. That is one solution that you are not willing to consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd happily pay $45K tuition for a school that had no technology in it whatsoever. Throw away all electronic boards, laptops, and tablets. Cancel all subscriptions to portals, educational management systems, and Google classrooms. Make the place a GD Faraday Cage.

That may work for elementary school but by high school they need to be prepared for the real world. It's ironic parents are upset over cell phones when the schools, especially in ES way over use the chromebooks for so called educational games. Teachers need to get back to actual teaching and engage kids so they are paying attention and not bored.

Oh you again?? How about you just teach your spawn that it's ok to be bored every once in a while and that a teacher is not a circus ring leader there for their endless entertainment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue of teacher safety is really important but I don't see what it has to do with cell phone policies. If you're saying you can't have a cell phone policy because kids might get violent if someone tries to enforce it, then you're essentially saying you can't have any rules or expectations whatsoever. Just let kids do whatever they want.

+100. None of these objections have anything to do with cell phones. Teachers enforce all sorts of rules every class--take out your books, stop talking Mandy, sit down now, no snacking... It seems like some sort of learned helplessness about cell phones--that has less to do with any unique prospect of cell phone-related violence (???) and more to do with the fact that clearly there is no societal consensus on what the rules should be and/or we are all phone addicts now.

So you just ignore the numerous news reports I shared of teachers being attacked over cell phones? That's how you process information? Ignore the things that don't fit your already predetermined viewpoint that teachers can and should be capable of handling everything?

I guess teachers hail from Krypton in your mind because you clearly believe they are Supermen/women.

So what is your solution?

If I had a silver bullet for you, I'd have a job working at MCPS to implement it.

As I said, cell phone use in schools is a tricky, complicated problem with no easy fixes. All of the proposed solutions thus far require tradeoffs that no majority of adults involved in the decision-making process seem willing to make.

But you seem so adamant that teachers are not to interfere with students' cell phone use. That is one solution that you are not willing to consider.

That is the solution currently in place and teachers are getting attacked as a result of it. It isn't about me not considering teacher-enforcement as a solution. That IS the status quo, and it's forcing teachers to:

1) Choose to enforce it and risk being attacked
2) Opt not to confront students about it and let phone use in class go uninterrupted

That's the reality of this solution. Are you ok with that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue of teacher safety is really important but I don't see what it has to do with cell phone policies. If you're saying you can't have a cell phone policy because kids might get violent if someone tries to enforce it, then you're essentially saying you can't have any rules or expectations whatsoever. Just let kids do whatever they want.

+100. None of these objections have anything to do with cell phones. Teachers enforce all sorts of rules every class--take out your books, stop talking Mandy, sit down now, no snacking... It seems like some sort of learned helplessness about cell phones--that has less to do with any unique prospect of cell phone-related violence (???) and more to do with the fact that clearly there is no societal consensus on what the rules should be and/or we are all phone addicts now.

So you just ignore the numerous news reports I shared of teachers being attacked over cell phones? That's how you process information? Ignore the things that don't fit your already predetermined viewpoint that teachers can and should be capable of handling everything?

I guess teachers hail from Krypton in your mind because you clearly believe they are Supermen/women.

So what is your solution?

If I had a silver bullet for you, I'd have a job working at MCPS to implement it.

As I said, cell phone use in schools is a tricky, complicated problem with no easy fixes. All of the proposed solutions thus far require tradeoffs that no majority of adults involved in the decision-making process seem willing to make.

But you seem so adamant that teachers are not to interfere with students' cell phone use. That is one solution that you are not willing to consider.

That is the solution currently in place and teachers are getting attacked as a result of it. It isn't about me not considering teacher-enforcement as a solution. That IS the status quo, and it's forcing teachers to:

1) Choose to enforce it and risk being attacked
2) Opt not to confront students about it and let phone use in class go uninterrupted

That's the reality of this solution. Are you ok with that?

Clearly not. Cell phone use clearly interferes with everyone's learning, mental health, and attention span. So, no, I'm not willing to continue the status quo and sacrifice our kids. We as adults need to do better by them.

[Anonymous]

Stop putting teachers in the middle. Just have admins send a letter home at the end of the day informing parents that their kid isn’t welcome in school until the parent comes in to talk to an administrator about the cell phone use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop putting teachers in the middle. Just have admins send a letter home at the end of the day informing parents that their kid isn’t welcome in school until the parent comes in to talk to an administrator about the cell phone use.

"Just"

[Anonymous]

Why are giving kids smartphones in the first place? I think an old school flip phone would be sufficient enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are giving kids smartphones in the first place? I think an old school flip phone would be sufficient enough.

Well that would be one way to solve it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue of teacher safety is really important but I don't see what it has to do with cell phone policies. If you're saying you can't have a cell phone policy because kids might get violent if someone tries to enforce it, then you're essentially saying you can't have any rules or expectations whatsoever. Just let kids do whatever they want.

This is not a "if scenario." Teachers ARE getting assaulted over trying to enforce cell phone bans. It is a reality.

So what do you propose MCPS do to prevent it from happening? Cause until you solve for that, many teachers will smartly make the decision that enforcing the ban is not worth their safety and wellbeing.

What do teachers do when kids get mad over other things? Surely they have a way to deal with it. IT's not that hard to piss off teens and access to phones is just one of a million things to set them off. Or do you suggest we let these kids do whatever they want? Is that safe????

The cell phone has a special hold over kids because it's an addiction. Have you ever tried to separate an addict from their substance of choice? It's not pleasant.

Read up: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/screen-time-over-can-child-stop

https://brisbanekids.com.au/how-to-stop-screen-rage-attacks/

Oh please, if MCPS started and consistently enforced a "no phones in class" policy countywide, there would be a bad month or two, people would adjust and then it would be business as usual (which does not mean 100% perfection of course but it would just be another rule that is more or less followed).

Or another rule that is more or less ignored, which is precisely what's happening in many schools.

Exactly.

I mean, technically, kids shouldn’t bring Fentanyl to school, yet we have kids distributing drugs at school anyway.

The rules say that minors should not be smoking weed in the bathrooms, yet my kids’ high school bathrooms are havens for the weed-smokers.

The rules prohibit vaping in schools. Our middle school has a huge issue with kids vaping at school. Heck, our ES (Twinbrook) had fifth graders vaping.

Maybe if MCPS even tried to enforce the rules that are already in place, that would be a good start.