Poster Boy

Poster Boy 

Despite the fact that I collect cell phones from students as they enter the classroom I count myself as an enlightened teacher and administrator.  I realize there are a multitude of creative ways of implementing and utilizing devices in the classrooms.  I also know that by using student devices it is a cunning cost cutting means for schools to avoid funding computer labs by transferring the costs of software and ever changing  hardware to the student by permitting them use of their own smart phones in class for educational and other research purposes.  

It is a razors edge we trend as educators.  Now I find myself having my students writing personal position papers relating to screen time, gaming and social media and how it directs and influences their lives and impacts their quality of life.  After the traditional, but out of the box brain storming session students were still absolutely stumped, puzzled, baffled and confused as to how there could even be such a thing as too much screen time. How can one spend too much time gaming? How could there be a down side to social media. This was turning out to be a battle of Old School versus New Generation.  

Just today I had a very brave student come to my office asking me to explain my policies of no cell phones in the classroom.  I was baffled by the experience.  I thought he might pound on my desk.  Instead he was polite and quiet.  This student practically had to use sign language.  In fact that would have been an improvement.  He was so inarticulate, had trouble looking up from his lap to address me.  He simply sat there looking at me. Finally,  I asked him, “How can I help you today?” 

‘I’d like to talk to you about cell phones.”

Then he went silent.

When he couldn’t formulate a thought I jumped in to fill the silence and explained to him my policy and how I derived it. I told him that I feared the over use of cell phones and other electronic devices may rob young people of their natural ability to access and effectively use their power of persuasion in face to face oral communication and their ability to focus on an issue.  I elaborated for a few more minutes until his concentration and interest seemed to lag.

He spoke not a single word, then in eerie silence left my office.

I had no idea if I had been looking at the poster boy for my no cell phones in the class room ideology, or if simply I had just scared the speech out of him.  

Maybe I should text him?