Friday, March 10, 2023

Oblivious

Wednesday. Sixth period at the continuation high school. Social studies.

They are given five minutes of "SSR" at the beginning of each period, otherwise known as free phone time. I generally let it slide into seven or eight minutes before I call it, though. After that, they are to put the phones away and not use them for the rest of the period.

Do they? Well, not really, but most will at least have the decency to hide them.

Nylah was making no pretense.

So, I approached. I stood there, waiting. I asked her to put her phone away.

She took a phone call.

Facetime. On speaker. She was talking to someone about nothing much at all.

Again, I asked her to put her phone away. She ignored me, although to her friend on the phone she mentioned that she would call her back, and then said she wouldn't. And continued with the conversation.

"What's so funny? What are you laughing at?"

This was directed at Solomon, Malia, and Tyson at the next table over. Which just made them laugh harder. 

Nylah got even more upset. She asked the others again, and then she flounced out of the room.

What were they laughing at? That Nylah was blatantly on her phone, talking loudly, and while I was clearly telling her not to be.

Nylah returned. She was still on her phone. 

Again, I asked her to put her phone away.

Solomon, Malia, and Tyson were trying to pull it together but failing miserably. 

There was nothing more to do. I sent Nylah to the Cell Phone Park.

(The Cell Phone Park is the "punishment" for students not getting off their phones. I haven't had to resort to it before. Students sent out of class for cell phone infractions get the rest of the period to be on their phones, but then parents are called and consequences are added on. Initially it sounds like a reward, but the downsides are such that no other student has pushed me on it. All I have to do is threaten the Park, and they're off their cell phones.) 

For the rest of the period, Solomon, Malia, and Tyson could talk of nothing else. Solomon wondered why Nylah didn't realize they were all up in her conversation when she was having it in the middle of class. Malia blamed Tyson for making her laugh. Tyson said he was just trying to keep a low profile.

I was just glad that I wasn't the only one who thought that having a full on conversation in the middle of class was ridiculous. 

With the way the kiddos are on their phones nowadays, I was beginning to wonder.

23 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. It's an interesting system. It gets the issue out of class and gives them what they want, but with a stinger attached.

      Delete
  2. Amazing. I can't imagine being so obvious in her disrespect. But, then again, it's a continuation school. When my kids were in a district home school (before it became accredited and "ruined" the freedom) a continuation high school shared the campus with us and the middle school. We were told to never walk down their corridors. I hope they were overreacting with the warning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They were and they weren't. The students mellow when they get sent to the other school, but they'll still front for others. It's better not to give them the opportunity to "show off".

      Delete
  3. Teen age students are tough task for teachers indeed
    People are so occupied with phone these days as it seems this is some kind of limb they are born with. So annoying specially when they keep busy with phone during family outing or gathering.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I do understand the ups of having a cell phone in school, or at least I think I do. If there was s gun man that came in a child could contact a parent when it was safe to let parent know what was going on. In the case of Evie having to be rushed to the ER, it was easy to get hold of Hannah in time for her to get to Evie's school to ride to the ER with her. But....in other ways, it's not good at all for reasons like you having to deal with a kid that ignores you when tell them to get off the phone. A phone should have to be kept in a pocket, or a purse when in class, but how do you control that. Sucks...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, phones aren't all negative. Too many of them are addicted and just seem to not be able to put them down. That's the issue. If they could leave them alone when they're supposed to be focusing on something else, they'd be completely fine.

      Delete
    2. The problem with the world, its not just the kids. It's those adults that want to talk on the phone as they shop for groceries or the woman that was on the john of the bathroom where I used to work. Talking the whole time she peed and grunted, wiped and left, still on the phone and did not wash her hands. Yes, I know, there is so much more to that statement then just the use of phones but...I had to throw it in there.

      Delete
    3. Can't really blame the kids for things the adults do, too. But I will push back when it's that blatant.

      Delete
  5. The Cell Phone Park. It's an interesting concept.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is. It wouldn't work for a larger school, but something the size of the continuation high school is a perfect fit.

      Delete
  6. She's going to be one of those people who shouts phone conversations in the middle of the store.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I wonder if her parents are the same and it's learnt behaviour?

    ReplyDelete
  8. One of my son high school teacher if the student would but their phone up. They had to call the school office. And someone from the office came and took there phone. And parent took had to go and pick it up.
    It happen to my youngest son and it was a Friday evening. No phone till Monday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love that, think more schools should act that way.

      Delete
  9. This is very interesting and students generally can be a handful.
    You have a lovely blog.
    I followed your blog, kindly follow mine. Thank you so much.
    http://www.worldviewcaptures.com/2023/03/2-candleriggs-glasgow-street-photography.html

    ReplyDelete
  10. Testing the limits. Blatant rebellion against authority. Hope one days she decides to learn all she can so maybe she won't be clerking at McD all her days, if even that lucky.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thing is, someone who rebels against authority wouldn't last at McD for very long. They're way more strict than the schools are.

      Delete
  11. I think the idea of Cell Phone Park is a good one. Kudos to whomever came up with it!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I like the idea of the Cell phone park too, even if it's not working for every student, obviously ;)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm flabergasted that any cell phone time is allowed during the course of the day. Some schools collect phones at the door to the classroom in a basket and the kids can get it back as they leave. Others I know collect them at the beginning of the day to be returned at the end of the day. I don't understand them getting to stay on their phones when they're suppose to be in trouble for being on their phones. It would seem not allowing them bring their phone to school for a period of time would be a better punishment. What other consequences are added? If it's up to the parents, I'm betting many receive no other consequencies. Parents want to be their childs best friend, not their parents........failing to realize they have a job to do. Don'tknow how you have the patience for it, asking her to get off vs telling her to get off NOW. As a kid growing up, we were allowed 15 minute phone calls and if talking to a boyfriend or girl friend (in the case of my brother), if we were on over our 15 minutes....my Dad would simply unplugg the phone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't change the system. From what I understand, the parents had a fit when the school took away the kiddos phones. I believe lawyers were involved.

      Delete

I appreciate your comments.

I respond to comments* via email, unless your profile email is not enabled. Then, I'll reply in the comment thread. Eventually. Probably.

*Exception: I do not respond to "what if?" comments, but I do read them all. Those questions are open to your interpretation, and I don't wish to limit your imagination by what I thought the question was supposed to be.