I can't believe how many times in a day we hear that p.a. reminding students that electronics, such as cellphones, ipods, etc etc (except calculators) are not allowed in the hallways and classrooms!
For the past weeks, I've been very "nice" about the issue. Yes, I implement the rule but I did not feel like I have to confiscate their personal possession - it's important to them - actually seems like more important than their grade!
Three days ago, I made it clear to all my students that I am not going to be nice anymore. I told them I am done reminding them to put them away and made that announcement as their last reminder from me. This is the eighth week in the semester and should be pretty much aware of the school's rules and regs. It's not that I have a lot of problems about electronic usage in my class but a few. Pretty much same students are doing the trick! When you tell me to keep it, they do but they will use it again if you're not looking. Or I would take it from them during class and give it back after class. But the handbook states to take the electronic item/s items from them and give it to the administrators for the student's parents to retrieve.
Anyway, I confiscated the 2nd cellphone yesterday. This student made it known since day 1 that he's a pest! He's one of those who just doesn't want to follow the crowd but makes his own. He's defiant and he thinks his cool! So, his cellphone was taken from him. At the end of the class wanted it back. Well, guess what I told him? Have your parents come tomorrow to get it from the principal. That's right! I said that. He was upset, grabbed my timer from my desk. He said that if I have his possession, he can have mine. Refused to listen to what I say and told me that he don't care whatever I say. Just imagine how kids around here get upset, how they use profane language - he was that bad!
I am not even done writing the report for the admin when I heard knocking on my door. Guess who? Yes, the principal. He basically wanted to hear what happened from my view, returned my timer and retrieved the cellphone. I asked him what I should have done. He agreed to what I've done, but told me I can also give it back to the student if I want to! Oh boy, I felt like that student's waiting for him to take his cell back. I thought it would be nice if they can follow their own rules!
In the end, I decided that I let it up to them to decide what happens next. I did my job, so I let them do theirs. Hopefully, the student will not brag about how he won over me. I promise you they will hear something from me.
tfr
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2 comments:
Good luck with the cell phone issue! =)
I am hoping to become a teacher.. But I don't think I could teach senior school.. I am hoping to teach primary/elementary students :)
I think that if the school administration makes a rule they should stick to it. If a rule is made and it is allowed to be altered or broken it will not work. Rules are made with a certain purpose in mind, to stop or correct a problem so if they are not followed as written that means they are not working. I have the same problem at work, rules are made and not followed and not enforced so as you can figure out they do not work. There is no sense to making a rule if you do not want it to work as you intended. As for the students behavior and for the cell phone that responsibility should be on the parents for letting the youngster have them. If a parent wants to allow their child to have a cell phone they should teach them how and when to use it responsibly. So yes the principle should hold it for the parents so the parents can solve the problem. As for the taking of the timer, that would be stealing and the principle or parent should not allow such behavior.
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