Comments on: Middle School Muddle: Cell phones at school yes, but, please, not at camp! http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/middle-school-muddle-cell-phones-at-school-yes-but-please-not-at-camp/ Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:19:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Justin Snider http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/middle-school-muddle-cell-phones-at-school-yes-but-please-not-at-camp/#comment-8959 Justin Snider Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:04:33 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/middle-school-muddle-cell-phones-at-school-yes-but-please-not-at-camp/#comment-8959 Personally, I believe we too often deceive oursevles into thinking certain technologies are not just convenient but essential to life as we know it. The reality is that humans survived just fine for thousands of years without cell phones and iPods, and some of us continue to do so. I concede that it becomes increasingly difficult to go without as the technology becomes more widespread, but it's not impossible. People are now expected to be reachable 24/7, which is ridiculous. I can't tell you how many concerts and theater events I've sat through in recent years where audience members are madly thumbing away on Blackberries -- to the orchestra playing Beethoven! What's the point of going to a performance if you can't unplug for a meager two hours? Most communication can wait, actually. We delude ourselves in thinking our replies must be instantaneous. The percentage of replies on which something seriously important hinges: almost nil. We fancy ourselves -- and our jobs -- more important than we, and they, are. I grew up without a cell phone and turned out just fine. Kids who come of age today calling mommy and daddy on their cell phones at the drop of a hat frighten me. Many of them don't learn to solve simple problems on their own. As a teacher, I know this "willed helplessness" all too well -- I see it in my students on a regular basis. Personally, I believe we too often deceive oursevles into thinking certain technologies are not just convenient but essential to life as we know it. The reality is that humans survived just fine for thousands of years without cell phones and iPods, and some of us continue to do so. I concede that it becomes increasingly difficult to go without as the technology becomes more widespread, but it’s not impossible. People are now expected to be reachable 24/7, which is ridiculous. I can’t tell you how many concerts and theater events I’ve sat through in recent years where audience members are madly thumbing away on Blackberries — to the orchestra playing Beethoven! What’s the point of going to a performance if you can’t unplug for a meager two hours?

Most communication can wait, actually. We delude ourselves in thinking our replies must be instantaneous. The percentage of replies on which something seriously important hinges: almost nil. We fancy ourselves — and our jobs — more important than we, and they, are.

I grew up without a cell phone and turned out just fine. Kids who come of age today calling mommy and daddy on their cell phones at the drop of a hat frighten me. Many of them don’t learn to solve simple problems on their own. As a teacher, I know this “willed helplessness” all too well — I see it in my students on a regular basis.

]]> By: Rebecca http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/middle-school-muddle-cell-phones-at-school-yes-but-please-not-at-camp/#comment-8954 Rebecca Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:49:26 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/middle-school-muddle-cell-phones-at-school-yes-but-please-not-at-camp/#comment-8954 Cell phones in school but not in class are an impossibility. The kids (and adults) are addicted. Answers texted to one another for a test, photos of teachers posted on MySpace, recordings of lessons warped and then replayed, answering a call from a parent DURING class, taking photos of other students while in the bathroom stall to post on flickr - need other reasons? I like the idea of a student being able to store and retrieve at the end of the school day - and some delis around schools have begun making extra cash that way. However, the logistics behind schools running that type of program would be time consuming and costly. Good luck. Cell phones in school but not in class are an impossibility. The kids (and adults) are addicted. Answers texted to one another for a test, photos of teachers posted on MySpace, recordings of lessons warped and then replayed, answering a call from a parent DURING class, taking photos of other students while in the bathroom stall to post on flickr - need other reasons?

I like the idea of a student being able to store and retrieve at the end of the school day - and some delis around schools have begun making extra cash that way. However, the logistics behind schools running that type of program would be time consuming and costly.

Good luck.

]]> By: Bronx mom http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/middle-school-muddle-cell-phones-at-school-yes-but-please-not-at-camp/#comment-8953 Bronx mom Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:02:45 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/23/middle-school-muddle-cell-phones-at-school-yes-but-please-not-at-camp/#comment-8953 It's great that you were able to resist the urge to relent. I think all teens should experience a little electronic withdrawal just so they know they can survive without their gadgets. Teens I work with often ask me (with genuine fascination) how I kept in touch with my friends without a cell phone or the internet way back in the 80's! We just sent messages back and forth with the pterodactyl! It’s great that you were able to resist the urge to relent. I think all teens should experience a little electronic withdrawal just so they know they can survive without their gadgets. Teens I work with often ask me (with genuine fascination) how I kept in touch with my friends without a cell phone or the internet way back in the 80’s! We just sent messages back and forth with the pterodactyl!

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