I have recently read several articles about the after effects of students placing vidoes that have been taped in school classes without a teacher's knowledge . Some were benign (usually just about classroom behavior or a joke), but some were really scary and hard to watch (teachers yelling, screaming, swearing, harassing kids).
Students often complain about the rules regarding cell phone use in school (cell phones are to be off and out of site at all times during school hours), but I feel some level of comfort knowing that the rule is in place.
I would be very offended if a student secretly filmed my class and then posted it on the WWW. I am not worried that the they contents of my class are worthy of WWW posting, but videos, like speech or text, can be edited or taken out of context and turned into something humorous, embarrassing or violent.
I fear that someone would watch an edited version of a class (as someone's idea of a joke) and take what was portrayed as serious and that I would find myself in serious situation.
Banning cell phones seems extreme, but it is done not only to keep them from distracting and disrupting class, but also to keep them from becoming a tool to embarrass or hurt an unknowing teacher.
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6 comments:
I understand that and I think keeping cell phones out of school is an appropriate action. Cell phones can be used at lunch hour and after school, of course I can say that because I don't have one. I think I would get a little excited if a student of mine recorded me during class and took my words out of context -- some kid is bound to think up such an ingenious idea to humiliate their teacher. I don't know why someone would, but who knows.
Mrs Hansen don't worry. If you say things during class that you worry that'd get you fired, you shouldn't worry. Also, you're lucky I don't have a video cellphone =p
Haha Mrs. Hansen im pretty sure whoever watched our classroom thinks we either have talking problems, or we chat about some pretty interesting stuff. ;) I think that keeping your turned off and out of sight is a very good idea. First of all the cell phone is very detracting. I see students in almost every class pull out their cellphone to check it, text, or watch videos. How can you learn or pay attention that way? Someone recording a classroom is rude and disrespectful. If there is a problem in a classroom take it to the principal, or even the police if it is really bad. The jokers are not as funny as they seem. Jokers can get people in trouble, and even lose their jobs. This is a very important issue and teachers should cracked down on the rule breakers. It doesnt matter who the person is, they may be harming someone else in some way.
Like Vanessa, I too think that the cell phone rule should be enforced more. I see kids in class that pull out their cell phones and then the teacher just tells them to put it away, and before you know it, that person has their phone out again, and because the rule isn't strongly enforced, the student keeps thinking that he/she can continue doing this and they won't be reprimanded for it. Ironically, it is these people that end up not doing well in class and they wonder why. As adolescents, we still don't always realize what can hinder our learning, and we sometimes need the adult to get us in line, even if it means we won't be happy about it.
I have always wondered why kids find it so necessary to use cell phones in school. Who are they calling, texting, etc? ...other kids in school? It seems a little pointless to me. "Hey what are you doing?" "Sitting in class what are you doing" "Me too.." If they are talking about anything significant, it is undoubtedly some form of gossip which is hardly ever positive in any way. I don't think there is any reason that students should have the privilege of using cell phones during school. Only an emergency would make it necessary, and you can use the office phone for that, plus no one ever said you couldn't keep a cell phone on your person... just not on. I think it is perfectly reasonable to ask kids not to disrupt class for something like that. It also shows a lot of disrespect to the teacher, and if other kids see students getting away with it they might begin to take advantage as well. As far as the dangers, I don't know how likely someone is to do things like that, but if someone did have way to much time on their hands, it would be very unfortunate for a teacher to have to deal with the bad reputation that they might not deserve.
I totally agree with you 100%. Almost fifteen times a day i see my classmates pull out their cell phone to text someone back, or watch a video if they dont find the conversation in class very interesting, or when we are supposed to be writing silently. Although i have never seen anyone record a teacher with their cell phone before, i suppose it could happen someday, and before you know it they have it edited and on youtube to make it sound like the teacher was harrassing them, or abusing them. This thing is very important for teachers to observe the body language of a student checking their cell phone. It is really obvious, but they always seem to get by without getting caught. I sometimes wish that the people sitting next to me would get caught, and have Saturday school, maybe that would teach them.
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