Oh how I hate cell phones and ear buds!

[Unkotare]

These things are the bane of my existence. I must spend a good 1-2 hours total every day policing these damn things. The school has strict rules governing the use of electronics in school and it is a constant struggle keeping the electro-junkies away from them.

There is a place in every classroom for students to place their devices at the beginning of each class, but there are always a few trying to smuggle them back or pull some other bullshit. Some kids have taken to bringing two phones to school so they can deposit one in the designated place and keep the other to feed their addiction. And of course since you just have to listen to music 24/7 your entire life, the ear buds become another thing time must be wasted on.

Boys try to wear hoods or just turn their head so that the ear bud side is facing away from the teacher (these are easy to spot). Some girls wear their hair long and hide the infernal things under the hair. The desperate obsession with these things is disturbing, but what is worse is knowing that kids who do not cling to these things like life itself do so much better academically. You can't put the genie back in the bottle, but it really is a problem.

 

[AyeCantSeeYou]

Cell phone signal jammer is what you need. It's illegal in the US without a permit, but considering the problems teachers all over the US have with students and their devices, it's something school districts should look into and implement.

 

[AyeCantSeeYou]

Much more interesting is the question on whether or not you can get away with the profanity in an OP?

His OP is fine the way it is. Your reply, however, is off topic.

 

[braalian]

Maybe I’m just getting old, but I’ll never, ever get used to coworkers or people on the street talking on the phone with just their earbuds.

I always think they’re saying something to me.

And, then, when they actually are saying something to me they get annoyed that I’ve been tuning them out

 

[Donald H]

His OP is fine the way it is. Your reply, however, is off topic.

I'm fine with that! It sets the bar for an OP, where it should have always been!

I'm not so fine with you declaring that the content of the OP can be off-topic?

There's my reason for not reporting the OP as being contrary to the rules.

Disagreeing with your ruling is worth it!

 

[justoffal]

These fucking things are the bane of my existence. I must spend a good 1-2 hours total every day policing these damn things. The school has strict rules governing the use of electronics in school and it is a constant struggle keeping the electro-junkies away from them.

There is a place in every classroom for students to place their devices at the beginning of each class, but there are always a few trying to smuggle them back or pull some other bullshit. Some kids have taken to bringing two phones to school so they can deposit one in the designated place and keep the other to feed their addiction. And of course since you just have to listen to music 24/7 your entire life, the ear buds become another thing time must be wasted on.

Boys try to wear hoods or just turn their head so that the ear bud side is facing away from the teacher (these are easy to spot). Some girls wear their hair long and hide the infernal things under the hair. The desperate obsession with these things is disturbing, but what is worse is knowing that kids who do not cling to these things like life itself do so much better academically. You can't put the genie back in the bottle, but it really is a problem.

Indeed it is.

 

[Unkotare]

Cell phone signal jammer is what you need. It's illegal in the US without a permit, but considering the problems teachers all over the US have with students and their devices, it's something school districts should look into and implement.

I hate to say it, but the teachers would bitch about that. Also, group texts are part of alerting staff to emergencies, lockdowns, etc.

 

[Muhammed]

Maybe I’m just getting old, but I’ll never, ever get used to coworkers or people on the street talking on the phone with just their earbuds.

I always think they’re saying something to me.

And, then, when they actually are saying something to me they get annoyed that I’ve been tuning them out

You're not alone.

One time I started talking back to the dude.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Cell phone signal jammer is what you need. It's illegal in the US without a permit, but considering the problems teachers all over the US have with students and their devices, it's something school districts should look into and implement.

It's more than just illegal, it is a federal FELONY to use one. I recall it can get you ten years.

 

[AyeCantSeeYou]

It's more than just illegal, it is a federal FELONY to use one. I recall it can get you ten years.

Yep, I stated in my reply it was illegal unless someone has a permit for it.

 

[Unkotare]

It is truly disturbing how completely addicted to those stupid things some kids are. After almost a full year of implementing rules about stowing the phones away at the beginning of each class, some kids have actually come around to leaving the fucking things at home. Some kids, after too many calls home from the school, have had their parents confiscate them. The majority of kids have come around to voluntarily stowing their phones in a numbered pouch slung over a door in the classroom. In most classes, it is only a minority of kids who would still rather earn themselves 5-10 days of detention after school than to be separated from their precious cell phones/ear buds.

 

[AyeCantSeeYou]

They're a problem everywhere. One of the projects I finished last year was a new building for the military and we installed lockers for cell phones and tablets. Any personal electronic device that isn't government issued is locked up before those that work in the building can start their day. The lockers are sound proof and block all signals. The building itself was designed to block all signals - nothing comes thru and nothing leaves. School districts across the country need something like this. Parents and kids can't be trusted to do what they should.

 

[DGS49]

Would it be possible to have escalating penalties for multiple infractions? First offense, confiscation of the device for the remainder of the day and detention; second offense, one day of in-school suspension; third offense, three days of in-school detention, and so on.

 

[marvin martian]

These fucking things are the bane of my existence. I must spend a good 1-2 hours total every day policing these damn things. The school has strict rules governing the use of electronics in school and it is a constant struggle keeping the electro-junkies away from them.

There is a place in every classroom for students to place their devices at the beginning of each class, but there are always a few trying to smuggle them back or pull some other bullshit. Some kids have taken to bringing two phones to school so they can deposit one in the designated place and keep the other to feed their addiction. And of course since you just have to listen to music 24/7 your entire life, the ear buds become another thing time must be wasted on.

Boys try to wear hoods or just turn their head so that the ear bud side is facing away from the teacher (these are easy to spot). Some girls wear their hair long and hide the infernal things under the hair. The desperate obsession with these things is disturbing, but what is worse is knowing that kids who do not cling to these things like life itself do so much better academically. You can't put the genie back in the bottle, but it really is a problem.

What are your options for disciplining/punishing the offenders?

 

[Unkotare]

Would it be possible to have escalating penalties for multiple infractions?.....

Once again you have "discovered" a brilliant, novel idea that IS ALREADY BEING DONE.