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?
September 1, 2007 at 5:41 am |
The school where I teach has a cell phone usage policy – in writing – but not every teacher enforces it in the same way, if at all.
RE: teachers being involved in counter-surveillance of their students: While I am no expert, I believe that one may need a court order, depending on one’s state of residence.
Re: students posting on the ‘Net: Seems to be like potential lawsuits. But, again, I am no expert.
BTW: I am surprised that his post did not get more responses. Hmmm.
September 1, 2007 at 6:45 am |
A colleague of mine recorded her class just to play back to them. she thought if they saw how awful they were they might change. It didn’t work.
No one should be put on the web without permission.
As for cell phones in school, that is another issue. I believe that kids should have them, but they should be turned off, except for emergencies. Of course, the good kids all listen. It is a constant struggle with the other ones.
We get almost no back up from administration, no matter how much they say they are helping so it is a hard policy to enforce. Parents don’t help when they call their kids in class either, but that does not happen too often.
September 1, 2007 at 2:31 pm |
My school has a zero tolerance policy on cellphones. If we a student with one we are supposed to take it and give it to the administration. A parent must come to retrieve the cell. After 3 times, it becomes the schools property. I like this policy.
However, I have my own policy in my classroom: don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t show, don’t hear. I don’t ask you if you have one; don’t tell me you have one; don’t show me you have one; don’t let me hear it. I honestly don’t care if they have a phone. If I hear it or see it; it becomes mine for the rest of the day. You may come and get it at the end of the day. However, if you refuse to turn it over I submit your name on a disciplinary referral. After the third time, I’ll turn it in to the administration.
It makes me nervous to know that students could be taping me in class. I’ve got to be aware that this could happen. One of my pet peeves is droopy pants by young men. I can rant and rave about this for minutes if this occurs. I talk about where the trend came from and why its not cool and how out of style they are. It rarely takes up class time, but parents might not like it. My administration may even be proud of my rants–but I don’t think they are nice rants.
September 2, 2007 at 10:31 am |
Pissed Off you would think that parents (and administrators) of all people would realize that calling or texting their kids in class has to be distracting and not conducive to their child’s education. What bothers me even more is that I’m sure all of us can remember life without a cell phone. I remember life without a computer, microwave, VCR and a lot of other things and I’m not that old!
Miss A, I have my moments where I rant too, not only about saggy pants, but about them etting caught up and ending up in a vicious cycle of landing in and out of jail. I go on and on about gangs, respecting others and themselves and just getting their acts together period. I’ve also been known to tell my students on several occasions that they are not doing me any favors by coming to school (because they talk and act like they are). I tell them all the time, I went to high school and got my diploma, plus a college degree. I’m trying to help you get yours. It would be interesting if they got all of that on tape or video.
MissProfe, I think a teacher who was recorded innocently conducting a 5th graduation ceremony, but had emphasis placed on her body parts, is trying to hunt down who posted video of her on YouTube so that she can sue or press charges. I’m curious to see what will come from her search and from more and more teachers defending themselves from the actions of their students. I wrote a post about a teacher featured on the Dr. Phil show, who’s past was exposed by students. She fought and won.