Today was the first day back to school after our February vacation. While teaching my second class of the morning, I saw a girl with "the look." Sitting up quietly, hands in lap, and eyes pointed downward. The last time I saw a student with "the look" was back in Oklahoma, most likely on the last day of school. It may have been a while, but I immediately knew what she was up to: text messaging. Unlike Classen, cell phones are strictly forbidden within the walls of the collège. I have gone all year without seeing a single cell phone in my class, and I love it. No disruptions like, "It's my mom, can I answer it?" or "May I go to the bathroom?" which in the late morning usually means, "Can I order Chinese takeout?"
Today, I quietly walked up to the student and quietly asked her to hand it over. I have to give her credit - usually, she's a bit of a back-talker, but this morning she was totally compliant. Perhaps it's because the last time I saw her, I had to send for an administrator (two came!) because she was being belligerent and refused to give me her carnet de liaison. (The carnet is basically a student's pass to be in the school. They must have it with them at all times, and parents, teachers and administrators use it to write notes back and forth). Or perhaps it's because just a few minutes earlier, I had complimented her on her new hairstyle.
Well, I can kiss any future connection with this student goodbye. After class, she and her group of supporters came forward to reclaim her portable. Sorry kids, rules say it goes down to the office. "Ah non, Madame, her mother works!" (I think this means she's not able to come to school to reclaim the phone). "Couldn't you please give it back to her and she'll never do it again?" The guilty student didn't even say anything. The phone went to Mme Lenoir, and I had to fill out an incident report because she'll most likely be "excluded" from school (they're serious here!). On my way to hand in the report, I ran into Emmanuelle in front of Mme Lenoir's office. What was in her hand? Why, another cell phone! Two in the same class period? It's an outbreak!
5 comments:
Isn't that a drastic difference! Wow.
I like the idea of the carnet de liaison. I think we need them here, too. Really, a pass to BE in school? Like it is a privilege to be there?
Oh, I don't think the kids think it's a privilege. I have mixed feelings about the carnet. I find e-mail to be so much more effective...
Mobile phones in school. [sigh] Lately, I've just been saying, "Don't be so obvious." Frankly, if a kid is texting, they're probably not talking or causing me grief. Or sleeping. However, last year, a student's father (in another class) text messaged his daughter that her grandmother had died. So sensitive!
Maybe we can use mobile phones to our advantage--students would be required to text message their homework to their teachers.
Ha - you're right, Michael. While she was sending her "SMS," she wasn't bothering the other students as she usually does.
Surprisingly, darts haven't been shooting out of her eyes since I took her phone. In fact, she's been mildly pleasant. I am convinced she has a split personality... or that she's just a regular moody teenager.
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