Pedro: Do you have a charger?
Pedro had his cell phone in his hand, and it looked like he was about to ask me if he could borrow my charger so that he could charge his phone.
Me: No.
P: (incredulous) You don't?
Me: Why would I need to have my charger?
P: To charge your phone.
Me: Have you even seen my phone?
P: You don't have a phone?!?
Me: I didn't say that. I just said you haven't seen it. I haven't been on it. So, why would I need my charger?
P: You might need to charge your phone. You might not charge it overnight and it could get low.
Me: Why? I'm not using it.
P: But it could lose power... What does it matter that you haven't been on it?
Me: You asked me if I had my charger.
P: And you told me you weren't using your phone.
Me: After you questioned why I didn't have my charger.
P: No, I didn't.
Seriously. This isn't verbatim (I truncated it a bit), but it's pretty close. And in this amount of time Pedro managed to forget that he started this line of inquiry. Sigh.
Of course, none of this is truly relevant. Even if I had had my charger, I wouldn't have lent it to him. Not that I cared if he charged his phone (a charging phone is a phone the student is not using during class). We have different phones, and my charger would not have connected to his phone anyway.
Funny that he would ask if you had a charger, knowing that although it might not be able to be used, he still is not supposed to be using the cell phone during class unless instructed to. Can you see the classrooms in the future having charge stations?
ReplyDeletebetty
A local courthouse installed stations where everyone could plug their devices in in the jury duty waiting room. I could see them doing something similar in schools someday.
DeleteI work in a BYOT school in Australia (Bring Your Own Technology - the kids are expected to have something, tablet, laptop, phone, whatever, pretty much all the textbooks are e-editions or online, we run an online learning space through the portal etc etc), and in our staffroom we have "collected" most of the major device chargers at various points. I know other staff rooms at school have as well, we lend them out while they are in our space, and they return before they leave. It works, the kids are respectful and polite and always return the stuff. And most of our classrooms are wired up so that you can have up to 25 or 26 devices plugged in or charging at once.
DeleteJust sitting here "shaking my head"
ReplyDeleteIt's the whole denying that he started it that gets me. I never would have brought up any of it if left to my own devices.
DeleteMaybe he was so confused about you not being glued to your phone that he forgot that he asked you for your charger.
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit scary that kids are worried about things like this. There have been many occasions when I've forgotten to charge my phone and it dies on me, but it's no big deal. I just shrug and plug it in when I get a chance. First world problems, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there are situations where they need their phones. Like, if they need to contact their parents after school to pick them up or something.
DeleteThis made me laugh. Interesting to see the thought process of someone focused on getting their phone charged! Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
He distracted himself, I think.
DeleteDo you think he was being deliberately confusing as a form of work avoidance or really was that dumb? It's hard to tell sometimes isn't it!
ReplyDeleteIt was towards the end of the period, and he had finished the assignment for the day, so there wasn't much work to avoid at that point. So yeah, he really was that dumb. But he's 14. That's typical for that age.
DeleteI can't really imagine a classroom where it's appropriate to ask a teacher for a charger. Cell phones feel so illicit.
ReplyDeleteCell phones are used more and more for instruction. This past week I covered a government class where they needed to use their phones to answer questions for their test review. (https://getkahoot.com/)
DeleteI'm new to your blog, so I'm not sure if your students are in high school, never-the-less, that's exactly what I imagine in this exchange. Pedro, the young high schooler who perhaps hasn't quite fully woken up despite it being late in the day... sigh
ReplyDeleteWhoops, I forgot to label the class. He was, indeed, a high school student. Freshman.
DeleteI used to amuse myself by answering the literal questions of the kids, and ignoring the very obvious sub text...drove 'em mad, taught 'em manners and made me chuckle.
ReplyDeleteK: I aint got a pen
me: sorry to hear that
K: I aint got a pen.
me: yes I heard you, I am sorry about that.
K: I AINT GOT A PEN
me: I am not deaf and I am sorry you don't have a pen.
K: Can I have one of those?
me: Pardon?
K: Can I have one of those?
me: Pardon?
K: Can I have one of those PLEASE?
me: Certainly honey, is there anything else you need?
I do the exact same thing.
Delete"I don't feel good."
Me: "I'm sorry."
They repeat. "I heard you. I said I'm sorry."
Yep, I wait for them to ask to go to the health office.