One of the most prevalent problems for today’s teachers is the issue of classroom cell phones, texting, and the attention problems they bring along with them. Dealing with this issue is not so easy as it used to be. At one time, teachers could simply confiscate the student’s cell phone until the end of class. No longer is that acceptable, nor is it especially safe in a world where school shootings, and other situations demand access to an emergency phone. How then does a teacher deal with this educational problem?
The easiest method to deal with cell phones in the classroom is to have them placed in a bag on the back of the student’s desk chair. This allows the student to access the phone in an emergency, but still allow the teacher to keep tabs on the students usage. These bags are relatively inexpensive, and present no problems as far as access in an emergency as well.
If this is not a good option for you, then you could consider a policy of keeping it out of sight. In a pocket or purse for example, is acceptable. Anywhere else is not. A student will attempt to push the envelope with this rule, and you as a teacher will need to be prepared for such an instance.
The best way to deal with the student that is refusing to keep the cell phone put away is to then take the cell phone on the spot and call the parents. While this option will not work every time, statistics show that it will work for the vast majority. Plus, the humiliation of getting your parents called is enough for most teens to avoid future transgressions.
In extreme problem cases, you can have cubbies or lockers for these items. This option is not the best because it is not a good emergency option. You also would then have the problem of theft, which opens a whole other can of problems.
Usually, one or a combination of these types of solutions is enough to get the students on track with keeping the cell phones put away. Try each of them and you will find the right one for each situation. Cell phones are too important to simply confiscate them and take away those potential lifelines in an emergency. That is the very reason that most parents give the children cell phones in the first place.
Image Credited To Flickr User Alton
