Cell Phones

The great experiment has failed.

A recent incident got me wondering why it is that, over 5 months into the school year, I'm still asking students on a daily basis, in nearly every class period, to put their cell phones away.  Something's just not right here.

You see, I've been approaching enforcement of the APS electronics policy this way:

 Treat students like reasonable young adults, with respect and fairness, and surely I'll get the same in return.  Students will realize and appreciate that they're in a situation where they're encouraged to make the right choice, and they'll do so.  Ask them to put their phone away, without making a big deal of it, and they'll respect my request and refocus on their education.  Right?

Wrong.

It's hard for me to admit to myself, and to you, that I've been taken advantage of because of my philosophical approach to this situation.  To put it in plain terms, I'm being played for a sucker.  My reasonable, moderate approach has been interpreted as weakness, lack of consequences....whatever.

The worst part is, when students continue to make bad choices, and reach for their cell phones again and again, it's disrupting instruction and preventing real learning from taking place.  As a professional, highly-trained teacher who truly believes in the value of education, this is where I have to draw the line.

 It's one thing if we're using cell phones to take photographs of images and information that we need (something I really like to use in my classroom, and life, from time to time), or to send ourselves a reminder about a deadline.  But when we're having a class discussion, or starting a new project, or I'm giving you feedback and ideas to help improve your project....and one of your classmates has both hands under the table and they're staring down like they're trying to burn a hole in the floor....we all know that student is not engaged in learning.

 I guess that's why APS created their current policy in the first place.
You know, the one that's on their website, in your student handbook, on your contracts....
This one:
http://www.aps.edu/about-us/policies-and-procedural-directives/procedural-directives/j.-students/student-acceptable-use-of-personal-electronic-devices

When something's not working, you've got to change it.  So I'm changing how I deal with the constant appearance of cell phones in my classroom.  I'm enforcing the policy exactly the way my school, my boss, his boss, and my main employer, Albuquerque Public Schools, has been asking me to do all along.

Ladies and gentlemen, consider this your written warning.  Unless I have asked to you take out your cell phone, to take a photo, create a reminder, enter a number or another class-related activity,  if I see your cell phone or suspect you have it out (you know:  staring under the table, hands under your purse, etc.---the usual) I will confiscate it, bag and tag it, lock it up and turn it in to administration.

I can tell you it's not personal, but some of you may take it personally.  That's your choice.  I anticipate we'll have a few incidents as we all adjust to our new situation.  That's just the way it is.  My latest experiment has failed.  So what next?  Follow the scientific method, of course!
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_scientific_method.shtml