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Cellphones with cameras, MP3 players growing headache for Canada's teachers
TORONTO (CP) - They play music, receive e-mail, access the Internet - and are wreaking such havoc in classrooms across Canada that some frustrated teachers and administrators are calling on school boards and governments for a crackdown on cellphones in school.
For many students, cellphones are a must-have accessory. Teachers, however, consider them a menace that not only disrupt class by ringing all the time, but also pose serious privacy concerns and make it far too easy for students to cheat on exams.
"Every year there is some new advancement of the technology that we have to deal with," said Irene Lanzinger, vice-president of the B.C. Teachers Federation.
"It's amazing how much change we've seen over the last 10 years in what kids have and what they bring to a classroom. Five or 10 years ago, you weren't taking pictures or videos with your cellphone."
Some say it's up to the teachers themselves to maintain order. But the increasing prevalence of modern technology in class has Ontario teachers pleading with school boards and the provincial government for help keeping the peace in class.
"It's increasingly becoming an issue for teachers," said Rhonda Kimberley-Young, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation.
"If it falls down to well over 100,000 teachers individually across this province to deal with it, I don't think it's unreasonable for direction to be given to them as professionals. It shouldn't be left to (their) discretion."
Modern cellphones, with features that allow users to take photos or shoot video, raise grave concerns about privacy, since candid snapshots and video clips can easily be posted to the Internet or e-mailed to others.
Text messaging and access to the Internet also make it easier for students to cheat while ringtones are evolving into long ballads which disrupt an entire classroom - especially if the student answers the phone.
Teachers are routinely pressured by students and parents alike who don't want cellphones left in school lockers for safety reasons, Kimberley-Young said. But teachers shouldn't be trying to stem the tide of modern technology without some formal guidance, she added.
"They can be a distraction to learning," Kimberley-Young said. "But there are all kinds of issues raised around cellphones in classrooms that extend beyond a distraction."
Toronto District School Board trustee Josh Matlow is calling for a board-wide ban on cellphone use in schools, but the Ontario government isn't interested in setting a provincewide policy, said Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.
Teens shouldn't be allowed to have their cellphones on in class, but it's up to school boards and teachers to deal with the problem, Wynne said Wednesday.
"A classroom management strategy would probably be for kids not to have their cellphones on," she said. "That's my opinion. But it's a local issue and I'm sure teachers and school principals will work that out."
Phones are even creeping into In Nova Scotia's junior high schools, said Mary-Lou Donnelly, the president of the province's teachers' union. While the provincial government hasn't stepped in, Donnelly said schools have handled the problem well on their own.
A provincial or board-wide policy may not be a good fit for every school or classroom, she said.
"Schools have dealt with it like schools deal with dress codes," Donnelly said. A cellphone ban might be appropriate for an urban school with 1,000 kids, but less so for a smaller, rural one, she added.
But pressure to deal with the issue is rising at Ontario school boards. Matlow said he plans to raise the issue of a board-wide cellphone policy at the board's next meeting later this month.
Indeed, Rick Johnson, president of the Ontario Public School Boards Association, acknowledged that the use of cellphones is so widespread boards may soon have no choice but to develop a formal policy.
"In an exam situation, kids could be texting answers back and forth," Johnson said. "It raises cheating to a new level if it gets that far."
Still some say there are more pressing issues in modern classrooms than annoying ringtones. Annie Kidder of the Ontario parent's group People for Education said there are always going to be gadgets and gizmos that distract students from their schoolwork.
Decisions about whether to confiscate cellphones are better left to individual teachers than provincial policy wonks, Kidder said.
"I think most teachers tell their students they can't be on their phone or text messaging people in class," she said.
"There's a lot of need for a lot of on-high policies, (but) I'm not sure that's one of them."
Angry teachers call for crackdown on students with cellphones. It that too much? Share your opinions
TORONTO (CP) - They play music, receive e-mail, access the Internet - and are wreaking such havoc in classrooms across Canada that some frustrated teachers and administrators are calling on school boards and governments for a crackdown on cellphones in school.
For many students, cellphones are a must-have accessory. Teachers, however, consider them a menace that not only disrupt class by ringing all the time, but also pose serious privacy concerns and make it far too easy for students to cheat on exams.
"Every year there is some new advancement of the technology that we have to deal with," said Irene Lanzinger, vice-president of the B.C. Teachers Federation.
"It's amazing how much change we've seen over the last 10 years in what kids have and what they bring to a classroom. Five or 10 years ago, you weren't taking pictures or videos with your cellphone."
Some say it's up to the teachers themselves to maintain order. But the increasing prevalence of modern technology in class has Ontario teachers pleading with school boards and the provincial government for help keeping the peace in class.
"It's increasingly becoming an issue for teachers," said Rhonda Kimberley-Young, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation.
"If it falls down to well over 100,000 teachers individually across this province to deal with it, I don't think it's unreasonable for direction to be given to them as professionals. It shouldn't be left to (their) discretion."
Modern cellphones, with features that allow users to take photos or shoot video, raise grave concerns about privacy, since candid snapshots and video clips can easily be posted to the Internet or e-mailed to others.
Text messaging and access to the Internet also make it easier for students to cheat while ringtones are evolving into long ballads which disrupt an entire classroom - especially if the student answers the phone.
Teachers are routinely pressured by students and parents alike who don't want cellphones left in school lockers for safety reasons, Kimberley-Young said. But teachers shouldn't be trying to stem the tide of modern technology without some formal guidance, she added.
"They can be a distraction to learning," Kimberley-Young said. "But there are all kinds of issues raised around cellphones in classrooms that extend beyond a distraction."
Toronto District School Board trustee Josh Matlow is calling for a board-wide ban on cellphone use in schools, but the Ontario government isn't interested in setting a provincewide policy, said Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.
Teens shouldn't be allowed to have their cellphones on in class, but it's up to school boards and teachers to deal with the problem, Wynne said Wednesday.
"A classroom management strategy would probably be for kids not to have their cellphones on," she said. "That's my opinion. But it's a local issue and I'm sure teachers and school principals will work that out."
Phones are even creeping into In Nova Scotia's junior high schools, said Mary-Lou Donnelly, the president of the province's teachers' union. While the provincial government hasn't stepped in, Donnelly said schools have handled the problem well on their own.
A provincial or board-wide policy may not be a good fit for every school or classroom, she said.
"Schools have dealt with it like schools deal with dress codes," Donnelly said. A cellphone ban might be appropriate for an urban school with 1,000 kids, but less so for a smaller, rural one, she added.
But pressure to deal with the issue is rising at Ontario school boards. Matlow said he plans to raise the issue of a board-wide cellphone policy at the board's next meeting later this month.
Indeed, Rick Johnson, president of the Ontario Public School Boards Association, acknowledged that the use of cellphones is so widespread boards may soon have no choice but to develop a formal policy.
"In an exam situation, kids could be texting answers back and forth," Johnson said. "It raises cheating to a new level if it gets that far."
Still some say there are more pressing issues in modern classrooms than annoying ringtones. Annie Kidder of the Ontario parent's group People for Education said there are always going to be gadgets and gizmos that distract students from their schoolwork.
Decisions about whether to confiscate cellphones are better left to individual teachers than provincial policy wonks, Kidder said.
"I think most teachers tell their students they can't be on their phone or text messaging people in class," she said.
"There's a lot of need for a lot of on-high policies, (but) I'm not sure that's one of them."
Angry teachers call for crackdown on students with cellphones. It that too much? Share your opinions
Mr And Mrs Parshuram
