Parents want kids to have their cell phones in class WTAF

[Anonymous]

Its the perfect storm to drive teachers out. Cell phones+ violent outbursts+ cussing+ no support no consequences+grade inflation at all costs+ nclb= blame the teacher for everything. We dont deserve teachers. Are we trying to teach the students about the corruption and degraded nature in America? Thats the only lesson i see in this senario. Its a lesson to show the kids how America works. I dont think people will be enthusiastic about joining the profession though. Teachers ate becomming more vocal about the abuse they have to endure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t we go natural consequences here? Don’t pay attention? Get bad grades. No makeups, redos, or 50% floor grades.

Seems like a good solution to me!

Because student A having their phone out in class is disruptive to everyone around them. It's the same reason people don't want their kids spending all day in a classroom with a student who regularly has violent emotional outbursts, etc. It's not that they don't have compassion for the other kid, but that they want their own child to have an appropriate learning environment as well.

My child listening to her music with airpods during independent work is not disrupting your child in any way. She is a straight A honors student and I see no reason she can't keep her phone as long as she isn't disrupting others.

The reason is that it's against the rules.

Even if she's a straight A student, the rules still apply to her.

Some of her teachers allow it. She knows the rules apply to her and she complies.

But the topic of the post was not “what are the rules?” - the topic of the post is why are some parents fine with phones, and I’m telling you why.

Saying my kid having her phone distracts your kid is like saying girls can’t wear tank tops because it distracts boys. Not my kid’s problem.

I’m a high school teacher. Yes, it is distracting to her neighbors. Trust me: her neighbors can hear what she’s playing on her AirPods. How do I know? Because I’ve tried allowing students to listen to music independently in class. It almost always ends with having to tell multiple students to turn their music down because others have complained.

Also, she’s now training her brain to need music during independent work. That’s going to be detrimental on AP exams, the SAT, etc. I’ve had to deal with angry students and parents who think they should be able to wear AirPods during testing, too. “But this is how I work best!”

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Way to gaslight! My child doesn’t owe your child “civic spirit” at school. She’s not a politician or civil servant. She is a student, there to learn, which she is doing.

Mind your own child, I’ll mind mine.

There was a really interesting interview with the surgeon general. One issue with social media/phones is the potential harm kids find on various platforms. And equal issue is kids forgetting how to socialize, interact, live with one another. Rules are getting made for these reasons so it may not be a matter of each of us peronally minding our own child (while they are sitting in public school spaces).

Please stop trying to pretend that there are behavioral expectations and social norms in public school! There are not ans kids who do behave and want to learn are forced to cope any way they can and teachers and administrators do not care about them! My daughter can’t even use the bathroom when she needs!

And she’s already taken the SAT and we’re good thanks.

DP. I sympathize with the PP. I am also far less civic minded about schools since being let down by them so frequently.

[Anonymous]

I’m tired of all the rules being created because the f&ck-up bad kids but being imposed on everyone. The entire environment is a $hitshow for anyone who just wants to learn. So a kid not paying attention, not doing any work or turning in any assignments, he’s fine. But the kid with all A’s quietly in the corner doing her work with AirPods in, SHE’S the problem? GTFOOH with the crap. I just want to split the schools in half - those that GAF and those that don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of all the rules being created because the f&ck-up bad kids but being imposed on everyone. The entire environment is a $hitshow for anyone who just wants to learn. So a kid not paying attention, not doing any work or turning in any assignments, he’s fine. But the kid with all A’s quietly in the corner doing her work with AirPods in, SHE’S the problem? GTFOOH with the crap. I just want to split the schools in half - those that GAF and those that don’t.

No. There's no reason she needs air pods. Did you need air pods to get through school? No, of course not. Why is your straight A student more special than you were?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of all the rules being created because the f&ck-up bad kids but being imposed on everyone. The entire environment is a $hitshow for anyone who just wants to learn. So a kid not paying attention, not doing any work or turning in any assignments, he’s fine. But the kid with all A’s quietly in the corner doing her work with AirPods in, SHE’S the problem? GTFOOH with the crap. I just want to split the schools in half - those that GAF and those that don’t.

DP. How can she contribute to the class if she has airpods in? There is either demonstration (independently showing you understand) or group work when the teacher isn't speaking at our school.

It's a no phone school, but my kids use a watch that has school mode. I can track them, but during school hours they can only call/text emergency numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of all the rules being created because the f&ck-up bad kids but being imposed on everyone. The entire environment is a $hitshow for anyone who just wants to learn. So a kid not paying attention, not doing any work or turning in any assignments, he’s fine. But the kid with all A’s quietly in the corner doing her work with AirPods in, SHE’S the problem? GTFOOH with the crap. I just want to split the schools in half - those that GAF and those that don’t.

No. There's no reason she needs air pods. Did you need air pods to get through school? No, of course not. Why is your straight A student more special than you were?

There were behavioral expectations when we were in school. You couldn't disrupt the class, or curse out the teacher, or throw chairs, etc. and get to still be in school. All of those things are regular occurrences now. Where have you been?

Do some of you even TALK to your teenagers? Blocks are 90 minutes long. Teachers "teach" for 20-30 minutes IF YOU ARE LUCKY. The rest of the time kids are doing independent work, usually online/on computers. It's basically like virtual school, but in a classroom. Also, because kids waste so much time and slack off so much, they are given multiple class blocks to complete assignments that should take 30-45 minutes. So often my child will complete and turn in an assignment on Day 1, that is supposed to take up the next 3 class days! And it's not because she rushed or did it incorrectly. It's because teachers are so used to kids doing absolutely nothing, that it takes that long to coax those kids into doing ANYTHING. I swear it's like some of you have no idea what is really going on in schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, because some of us have kids in after school and other activities and need to coordinate. Schools don't have pay phones like ours did growing up. Unfortunately its a necessity at times.

They don't need it during class time for that.

Agree - your "need" makes no sense. Imagine this. Coordinate in the AM. They CAN manage to follow directions unless they are severely mentally impaired. Make a plan to pick them up at school, at a given location at a given time. If they need extra support in following through on these directions, write them a little note and put it in their backpack. Phones are proven to do terrible things to your kids - you are saving their mind and mental health - sorry if that is inconvenient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of all the rules being created because the f&ck-up bad kids but being imposed on everyone. The entire environment is a $hitshow for anyone who just wants to learn. So a kid not paying attention, not doing any work or turning in any assignments, he’s fine. But the kid with all A’s quietly in the corner doing her work with AirPods in, SHE’S the problem? GTFOOH with the crap. I just want to split the schools in half - those that GAF and those that don’t.

DP. How can she contribute to the class if she has airpods in? There is either demonstration (independently showing you understand) or group work when the teacher isn't speaking at our school.

It's a no phone school, but my kids use a watch that has school mode. I can track them, but during school hours they can only call/text emergency numbers.

This is not a public high school.

[Anonymous]

Enough already with the phones in schools! Sign our new petition to support a full-on culture shift in DMV schools. It's gotta happen to get our kids back on track: https://www.change.org/p/phone-free-dmv-schools?source_location=psf_petitions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t we go natural consequences here? Don’t pay attention? Get bad grades. No makeups, redos, or 50% floor grades.

Seems like a good solution to me!

Because student A having their phone out in class is disruptive to everyone around them. It's the same reason people don't want their kids spending all day in a classroom with a student who regularly has violent emotional outbursts, etc. It's not that they don't have compassion for the other kid, but that they want their own child to have an appropriate learning environment as well.

My child listening to her music with airpods during independent work is not disrupting your child in any way. She is a straight A honors student and I see no reason she can't keep her phone as long as she isn't disrupting others.

She's disrupting others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, because some of us have kids in after school and other activities and need to coordinate. Schools don't have pay phones like ours did growing up. Unfortunately it's a necessity at times.

They can have it back after school, dummy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of all the rules being created because the f&ck-up bad kids but being imposed on everyone. The entire environment is a $hitshow for anyone who just wants to learn. So a kid not paying attention, not doing any work or turning in any assignments, he’s fine. But the kid with all A’s quietly in the corner doing her work with AirPods in, SHE’S the problem? GTFOOH with the crap. I just want to split the schools in half - those that GAF and those that don’t.

Excuse me whiny entitled momma!! Were you allowed to use your iPod mini with wired headphones and listen to Backstreet Boys when you were in class in high school?

[Anonymous]

I imagine y'all are arguing with a 16 year old girl and not her mom. Those posts 100% read like a teenager is writing them.

Unless mama only has a high school education, which I suppose is possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t we go natural consequences here? Don’t pay attention? Get bad grades. No makeups, redos, or 50% floor grades.

Seems like a good solution to me!

Because student A having their phone out in class is disruptive to everyone around them. It's the same reason people don't want their kids spending all day in a classroom with a student who regularly has violent emotional outbursts, etc. It's not that they don't have compassion for the other kid, but that they want their own child to have an appropriate learning environment as well.

My child listening to her music with airpods during independent work is not disrupting your child in any way. She is a straight A honors student and I see no reason she can't keep her phone as long as she isn't disrupting others.

You are incorrect. First, there are very few kids these days who truly listen to music on their airpods at a volume where neighbors cannot hear them. I'm tired of hearing this faint whisper of music from all the air buds around me. Additionally, when your child listens, then you have a bunch of other kids who want to use their airbuds when your child has hers. Some of those kids need to pay attention. Some of them do okay when they are distracted, but do better when they aren't. And there is no good way to set up a two-tiered system where some have their devices and others don't.

So, your child have special privileges that others don't, most definitely is disruptive for other students and the teacher. I'm sorry if your child is bored and cannot keep her attention focused without external stimulation. She'll just have to follow the same rules as everyone else.