Yup. Let me tell you that as a teacher it’s been hard to watch the demise of classroom conversations between classes. Gone are the days when I walked into a class and the students would be laughing, talking, utterly engaged with one another. Now when I walk in it’s everyone staring at their phones….
I see no reason why students should be allowed to have phones and other personal devices like that in the classroom/school. I think all those things should be checked into special lockers or something similar when they arrive and picked up after school. If parents need to get in touch or students with parents, they should go to the office and make a call from there. That also takes care of any sexting and shaming videos.
I couldn’t agree more Janet!! I wanted to ban computers for homework etc, because of the problems with spell/grammar checks, and copying and pasting, and now we have kids totally ignorant of each other – I used to enjoy a lot of the 1940s/50s science fiction, but now I’m getting worried, it seems to be coming true!
I agree but it’s out of my hands literally. I also think the students would be better students if they didn’t have their phones as a distraction. The good news is none of mine seem itchy for theirs as soon as class starts.
True. I recently bought some beautiful writing paper and a new fountain pen, and am actively writing letters to people because I realised I was in danger of forgetting how to. And it is lovely to receive a handwritten letter.
Preaching to the choir, Su. I’ve lamented this for many years now and had the same experience where I’m having tea or lunch with a friend who has a phone on the table and is constantly looking at it. I understand if it’s for business that you might have to take a call or answer a text, but there are sounds to let you know you’re “needed”. The rest of the time, spend with me. After all, isn’t that why we’re having coffee or lunch?
UGH! Makes me so angry and sad… 🙁 You see it everywhere and I’m really so happy there weren’t any mobile phones around when I grew up. And it’s not just the kids but their parents too – how often do I watch young parents looking at their phones while pushing the baby trolley? Or ignoring the dog at their feet looking so sad at their owners but they don’t even notice it. What a sad world this has become…
I agree. Seeing parents ignore their children in favour of their phone is one of the things I get most angry and upset about. I remember a few years ago on a train watching four groups of mothers and children in the carriage with me. Three totally ignored the kids — who subsequently whined and acted out, while one young woman talked all the time to her little boy, pointing things out and playing games with him. He was so lively and engaged and happy. And of course, other adults were drawn to him because of it and I could see how small things create forks in the road of a child’s development. That one little boy was already confident in his mother’s love, fully engaged in learning, and also learning how to interact with other people. Those other children were being left behind. If that pattern is repeated again and again, the consequences are terrifying.
I totally agree – the consequences of this sort of negligence are terrible. I observe the differences between students whose parents choose to interact and engage with their children and those with parents who don’t: the first group of kids is much more self-confident and willing to learn new things whereas the latter is challenged by the easiest tasks. 😯
I guess that’s true. I guess I find it strange because I have to make arrangements to actually see people, so I feel I want to be present in that moment, not somewhere else.
Reblogged this on Notes and commented:
A picture worth thousand words.
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Grrr…
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My thoughts exactly
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Yup. Let me tell you that as a teacher it’s been hard to watch the demise of classroom conversations between classes. Gone are the days when I walked into a class and the students would be laughing, talking, utterly engaged with one another. Now when I walk in it’s everyone staring at their phones….
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I see no reason why students should be allowed to have phones and other personal devices like that in the classroom/school. I think all those things should be checked into special lockers or something similar when they arrive and picked up after school. If parents need to get in touch or students with parents, they should go to the office and make a call from there. That also takes care of any sexting and shaming videos.
janet, former teacher
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I couldn’t agree more Janet!! I wanted to ban computers for homework etc, because of the problems with spell/grammar checks, and copying and pasting, and now we have kids totally ignorant of each other – I used to enjoy a lot of the 1940s/50s science fiction, but now I’m getting worried, it seems to be coming true!
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I agree but it’s out of my hands literally. I also think the students would be better students if they didn’t have their phones as a distraction. The good news is none of mine seem itchy for theirs as soon as class starts.
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I know you can’t control it. That was just a general rant. 😁
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I’m so out of touch. I thought devices were banned from classrooms. 🤨
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I wish!
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That is so sad, and kind of scary. Hard to learn empathy and to read body language from a screen ☹️
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Yes, and feel connected in a meaningful way. So I try to make my classes as interactive as possible. With teens it’s all about them, anyhow. 😛
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That’s so true.
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Such a commentary on modern life.
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Isn’t it ☹️
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Great capture, Su, and am agreeing with everyone from “Grrr …” to “Such a commentary…”
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Thanks Del. I’m used to seeing young people glued to their phones, but it seems to have crossed the age barrier big time.
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Same here. 🙄
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such a loss
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I agree
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Sigh…..
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I do agree, but funny we should be lamenting it online. 🙂
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Gotta love irony. But at least we’re not all in the same room doing it.
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That’s true.
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And with texting also comes the lost art of letter writing.
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True. I recently bought some beautiful writing paper and a new fountain pen, and am actively writing letters to people because I realised I was in danger of forgetting how to. And it is lovely to receive a handwritten letter.
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If they live together, maybe they are sick of talking to one another?
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Hehe.
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Preaching to the choir, Su. I’ve lamented this for many years now and had the same experience where I’m having tea or lunch with a friend who has a phone on the table and is constantly looking at it. I understand if it’s for business that you might have to take a call or answer a text, but there are sounds to let you know you’re “needed”. The rest of the time, spend with me. After all, isn’t that why we’re having coffee or lunch?
janet
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That’s one of my pet hates too, though I have to say most of my friends seem to have the same view.
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Just wait until they discover it, Su.
Leslie xoxo
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Don’t know whether to laugh or cry!
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Did you notice that during lockdown we were using our phones as phones more and texting less? I enjoyed those conversations.
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That is so true. And I’ve slipped so quickly back into the old way ☹️
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UGH! Makes me so angry and sad… 🙁 You see it everywhere and I’m really so happy there weren’t any mobile phones around when I grew up. And it’s not just the kids but their parents too – how often do I watch young parents looking at their phones while pushing the baby trolley? Or ignoring the dog at their feet looking so sad at their owners but they don’t even notice it. What a sad world this has become…
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I agree. Seeing parents ignore their children in favour of their phone is one of the things I get most angry and upset about. I remember a few years ago on a train watching four groups of mothers and children in the carriage with me. Three totally ignored the kids — who subsequently whined and acted out, while one young woman talked all the time to her little boy, pointing things out and playing games with him. He was so lively and engaged and happy. And of course, other adults were drawn to him because of it and I could see how small things create forks in the road of a child’s development. That one little boy was already confident in his mother’s love, fully engaged in learning, and also learning how to interact with other people. Those other children were being left behind. If that pattern is repeated again and again, the consequences are terrifying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree – the consequences of this sort of negligence are terrible. I observe the differences between students whose parents choose to interact and engage with their children and those with parents who don’t: the first group of kids is much more self-confident and willing to learn new things whereas the latter is challenged by the easiest tasks. 😯
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I’m not at all surprised by that ☹️
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Sorry for the rant; it is a subject very dear to my heart.
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Don’t be! I feel the same about it! xxx
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The conversations are happening … just not with each other 😕
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I guess that’s true. I guess I find it strange because I have to make arrangements to actually see people, so I feel I want to be present in that moment, not somewhere else.
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Too true! That is why we write!
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Very sad and also dangerous to be so blinkered to what’s going on in their midst. I worry for them, but to them this is normal.
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I worry too ☹️
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