Forget about Big Brother watching over you. “The Man,” is no longer a threat. With the advent of cell phones that have cameras and video recorders, its tech savvy kids that we should fear and more and more teachers are ending up on the internet, without even knowing it. AOL Video has a feature called “Dirty, Rotten Teachers” which features teachers recorded on cell phone video cameras by students from around the world.
“Austin” teacher was wrong for all of the profanity, but he was clearly upset. It is obvious from the video that there was a big issue in his classroom with students using their cell phones to send text messages. Ironically it was student using a phone, as he was yelling about it, that got him on YouTube. Was the teacher in the right? No. He crossed a line. But at the same time I truly undertsand his frustration. I think he would have done better leaving the room to collect himself and perhaps should have called an administrator to come in a see what was going on with the kids and their cell phones.
“Angry Professor” was actually not as angry as I expected him to be. As both a teacher and I student, I don’t see the need for cell phones in class. They are very distracting and I would nevr answer a phone in class. If it was such an emergency, the person could simply let the caller leave a message, then excuse themselves from class, walk outside and then return the call. It’s not that hard.
A part of me agrees with the Chinese teacher in “Angry RJC Teacher.” Should she have pulled the student aside and sscolded him? Well she could have, but would it have had the same or any effect?
I have been scolded by a teacher in front of peers before and I lived to write about it here, at this moment. Sometimes I think that parents have gotten so caught up preserving a child’s self esteem that telling the truth and getting the message across has fallen by the wayside.
“Teacher Hit Student” was just wrong.
“Angry Teacher ” only shows a teacher yelling because half of his class came late. I understand the frustration.
Cell phones have been a big debate at my school for a while. I understand that things have changed since Columbine and 9/11 and many parents argue for the permitting cell phones at school for emergency purposes. But, the faulty logic with that to me is that while many schools and districts permit cells phones on campus, they are supposed to be turned off and not in use while class is in session. But more often than not, the phones are on and kids are using them in class. I can’t tell you how many times that I’ve caught some of my students texting or calling their friends while in class. A few have even admitted that they were texting or calling their parents! And, I don’t know which is worse, the fact that the parents are knowingly interrupting class and breaking school/disrtict policies or the fact that many of these kids read below the 5th grade level! They can barely read and are trying to text!
This, coupled with the lack of support from parents and administration, has frustrated me on more days than I care to remember. I even had a student threaten to video the teachers and staff at my school and we (well I can really only speak for myself) have not behaved liked this, even when hit, kicked and threatened by them. Just imagine, if half the kids recording these teachers put in just as much time and effort studying, doing classwork or just even paying attention in class, imagine how much better they would academically be.
It’s no wonder that teachers are in short supply. I don’t think that increasing occurences of teachers ending up on YouTube and MySpace is going to help matters. There were many days that I wanted to record the conversations of some of my students and the things they said to me. Once, as a student was yelling while standing in a chair, after she had overturned her desk and threw papers all over the room, I realized that I had my digital camera in my purse. I took a picture of the mess and the girl, wanting to show it to administration and her mother. But, Dr. Man talked me out of it. I still have those pictures, along with many more of a torn up classroom. The only reason why you all haven’t seen them yet is fear on my end that someone who works at my school or one of the parents would recognize either my room and or the student even if I blurred the face.
My dad got me a swanky, little digital recorder recently as a birthday present and for use in grad school. Hmmmmm. That’s got me to thinking…….. My cell phone only takes pictures, and they’re not that great. Hmmmm………. I say all teachers out there should raise up and arm themselves with digital recorders and cell phones that have video recording capabilities. We have to have some way of fighting back! Administrators are unwilling to help and the parents seem to think that their kids are Angels, or at least should be treated like them even if they realize they’re actually hellions. Viva the Teachers!!!!!!
What do you think? Should cell phones be allowed in school or not? How do you feel about teachers being recorded and posted on the web?
Posted by School Teacher 
