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September 14, 2005
Managing the electronic device boom in schoolsIt is not just cell phones anymore. The Houston Chronicle recently took a look at how Texas schools are dealing with the electronic-device obsession of America's kids:
As classes resume this month, schools across Texas are struggling to create and enforce technology policies that keep pace with today's children — a generation dependent on cell phones, text messaging and digital music players. Educators have written and rewritten the rules to try to manage all the different devices that ring, beep, flash and otherwise distract class. They're also guarding against cheating, theft and inappropriate uses.
Texas is one of 16 states that allow local districts to decide whether to ban cell phones, according to a 2004 study by the Education Commission of the States, the Chronicle reports.
But how can schools control these things when parents won't? In an eye-opening piece from the Denver Post: "By some counts, one-quarter to one-third of fourth- and fifth-graders in Denver-area schools either have their own phones or routinely use their parents'. Some callers are as young as kindergarten." In stores, "back-to-school aisles are loaded with children's backpacks conveniently equipped with cell phone holders." And manufacturers are adding easy-to-use keyboards for (very) young fingers. But this article points to the real problem: Parents can no longer say no to their 7-year-olds.
At its annual conference in April, NSBA hosted an online discussion that focused on cell phones, cameras, and other 21st century classroom intrusions. Two attorneys who specialize in this area answered many good questions here.
Posted September 14, 2005 11:13 AM | Education Technology
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