4 ms·

"No phones" was the rule back in the 2000s, when phones were flip phones or pagers for drug deals. Then helicopter parents demanded to be able to contact their

"No phones" was the rule back in the 2000s, when phones were flip phones or pagers for drug deals. Then helicopter parents demanded to be able to contact their children at any time, including during classes, so phones were allowed. There was the added bonus of "What if there's a shooting? I need to be able to call my kid during a shooting!" Now, phones are not allowed again. The takeaway is that phones should never have been allowed in school. They distract from school, and kids need to learn to focus on tasks without being distracted.

Terr_ 1y ago
Right: If parents needed to contact students during class--or vice-versa--there was never[0] any technical barrier to that! You don't need hundreds of distraction/cheating pocket computers in a giant invisible wireless network for that, a school could easily route the information if the organization chose to do so. The technology was used as an end-run around an organizational barrier.
- kjkjadksj 1y ago
  There is no organizational barrier. Parent can still call the school and say jimmys dad is in the hospital or whatever.
  - SoftTalker 1y ago
    And, it allows parents and students to completely ignore making plans. Jimmy needs a ride home from football practice? That should be (a) expected and (b) planned for in advance. He should not have to text mom to come and pick him up. He wants to go home with Tommy instead? Well too bad, that wasn't the plan.
    - deleted 1y ago
      [deleted]
    - lmm 1y ago
      Thanks for saying the quiet part out loud. Phone bans have never been about improving education, they're just adults seizing a chance to make children's lives more miserable.
      - ethbr1 1y ago
        I think you misunderstood parent's (admittedly poorly illustrated) point. As someone who grew up mostly before cell phones, it forced a greater level of planning, responsibility, and freedom on me than kids now normally experience. I'd often call my parents (gasp! Remembering my house phone number!) to adjust plans, by telling them where I'd be for how long. And generally, they had no problem with it. I laugh thinking about the absolute fucking nuclear meltdown a lot of helicopter parents would have today at middle schoolers saying "I'll be over at this friend's house for the day. Will give you a call closer to dinner. If you want me, call their house phone, but we might be out in the neighborhood or woods."
        SoftTalker 1y ago
        Correct. Parents want kids to have phones at school because it allows the parents to be lazy about making plans for the day and sticking to them.

Terr_ 1y ago

Right: If parents needed to contact students during class--or vice-versa--there was never[0] any technical barrier to that! You don't need hundreds of distraction/cheating pocket computers in a giant invisible wireless network for that, a school could easily route the information if the organization chose to do so. The technology was used as an end-run around an organizational barrier.

kjkjadksj 1y ago
There is no organizational barrier. Parent can still call the school and say jimmys dad is in the hospital or whatever.
- SoftTalker 1y ago
  And, it allows parents and students to completely ignore making plans. Jimmy needs a ride home from football practice? That should be (a) expected and (b) planned for in advance. He should not have to text mom to come and pick him up. He wants to go home with Tommy instead? Well too bad, that wasn't the plan.
  - deleted 1y ago
    [deleted]
  - lmm 1y ago
    Thanks for saying the quiet part out loud. Phone bans have never been about improving education, they're just adults seizing a chance to make children's lives more miserable.
    - ethbr1 1y ago
      I think you misunderstood parent's (admittedly poorly illustrated) point. As someone who grew up mostly before cell phones, it forced a greater level of planning, responsibility, and freedom on me than kids now normally experience. I'd often call my parents (gasp! Remembering my house phone number!) to adjust plans, by telling them where I'd be for how long. And generally, they had no problem with it. I laugh thinking about the absolute fucking nuclear meltdown a lot of helicopter parents would have today at middle schoolers saying "I'll be over at this friend's house for the day. Will give you a call closer to dinner. If you want me, call their house phone, but we might be out in the neighborhood or woods."
      - SoftTalker 1y ago
        Correct. Parents want kids to have phones at school because it allows the parents to be lazy about making plans for the day and sticking to them.