In today’s class, we talked about how much power a teacher can have over a child. Just that sentence alone is scary even though we are adults and are have to facilitate a class does not mean we get to control them. From a young age, kids start making their own decisions based on what is best for them. That being said when something is taken from them they might feel uncomfortable or frustrated that we took their belongings or their sense of security. During class, we discussed cell phone jails and how they can change the atmosphere in the classroom. When a phone is taken from a student it shows a lack of trust in the teacher. How the teacher feels as if it is okay to take something from them without no warning or without giving them a chance to prove themselves. Sometimes it can be difficult to get students to focus when they are on their phones but we must remind them to put their phones in their bags, lockers or desk where they cannot be distracted by them. To make these situations easier we have to give them the opportunity of holding themselves accountable for their actions and their learning. To do this, give them warnings before asking them to put it in their locker. At the end of the day cell phones are a privilege for young kids and if their parents hear they are miss using them they will be the ones to take their phones or give them consequences, not the teacher.
October 14, 2022 at 12:44 pm
Very well said Tash! When a teacher takes away their students’ phones it creates an unbalanced power dynamic in the classroom. It also leaves no room for reasoning or an explanation: why was it important for them to go on their phone By jumping to conclusions we are taking away their adjacency. We should be teaching how to use technology responsibly and that doesn’t happen by just taking their phone away.