Help Wanted: A Winning Cell Phone Policy in the Classroom

Teachers: What is your classroom cell phone policy?

I ask as someone who has come to know the squared shoulders, elbows out signature pose of someone secretly texting under his desk.

I ask as someone who knows teens well enough to know that confrontational administration of any policy erodes a classroom culture. “Because I said so” does not fly with 21st century teens.

I ask as someone who knows that cell phone addiction is a real thing.

I ask as someone who just finished a personal, self-imposed one-week no cell phone stint.

I ask as someone who literally dreamed of texts and emails during that week.

I ask as someone who knows that the cell phone’s capabilities are as amazing as any invention in our lifetime.

I ask as someone who knows that the cell phone also destroys our ability to have deep conversations with the people that we are actually with.

I ask as someone who is fortunate to have a supportive administration that will back up my classroom policy.

There’s the right policy, and the right way to deliver the policy to our students.

I am looking for both.

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