iPod got my ipod taken up

[ColoJohnBoy]

Cell phones have no place in high-school or earlier, unless there is a medical or family reason that requires the student to have a cell phone. You do not need to use your cell phone in-between classes. Also cell phones can be used to cheat.

That's really expecting the worst in people. You can't expect anybody to learn personal responsibility if you don't give them the opportunity to exercise it. Contrary to perception, high school students do have lives outside school and family, regardless of their content. Generally, no, nobody needs to use a phone between classes. What is needed is trust, understanding that it will sometime be breached, in the ability of teenagers to make good decisions. By and large, they do. Give people your trust and responsibility, and more likely than not they'll live up to your expectations.

 

[faintember]

That's really expecting the worst in people. You can't expect anybody to learn personal responsibility if you don't give them the opportunity to exercise it. Contrary to perception, high school students do have lives outside school and family, regardless of their content. Generally, no, nobody needs to use a phone between classes. What is needed is trust, understanding that it will sometime be breached, in the ability of teenagers to make good decisions. By and large, they do. Give people your trust and responsibility, and more likely than not they'll live up to your expectations.

You have never been a teacher in a public school, have you? I will trust students more if they would follow the current rules. A good decision would be to follow the rules.

 

[clayj]

You have never been a teacher in a public school, have you? I will trust students more if they would follow the current rules. A good decision would be to follow the rules.

Yeah, I dunno what he's talking about. His idea seems to be "let's just trust everyone to do the right thing". Hell, let's let students carry guns into schools, and trust that they will only use them when they NEED to.

I know, my example is extreme. But part of learning personal responsibility is learning to follow the rules which apply to us all... within the microcosm of a school, that means following the policies established by the school board, the superintendent, and the principal.

 

[ColoJohnBoy]

I don't advocate breaking the rules. I advocate questioning the purposes of the rules themselves, the motives of those instating them. Administrators, teachers, parents, etc. have a tendency to paint everything with too broad a stroke, ignoring the complexities of the situation, whatever it may be. I'm saying that being so restrictive in regulating behavior will more likely than not backfire. I've no desire to respect those who pay me none. I followed the rules, to be sure, but deeply resented the fact that I was viewed no differently than the other 2000 people at my school: as one who cannot be trusted to make his own decisions, one who hasn't the capacity to understand "the real world". Yes, I'll follow the rules, but not without question, and, if warranted, not without a fight.

 

[ColoJohnBoy]

Yeah, I dunno what he's talking about. His idea seems to be "let's just trust everyone to do the right thing". Hell, let's let students carry guns into schools, and trust that they will only use them when they NEED to.

I'll thank you to not use that as an example. It is much too close to home.

 

[clayj]

I don't advocate breaking the rules. I advocate questioning the purposes of the rules themselves, the motives of those instating them. Administrators, teachers, parents, etc. have a tendency to paint everything with too broad a stroke, ignoring the complexities of the situation, whatever it may be. I'm saying that being so restrictive in regulating behavior will more likely than not backfire. I've no desire to respect those who pay me none. I followed the rules, to be sure, but deeply resented the fact that I was viewed no differently than the other 2000 people at my school: as one who cannot be trusted to make his own decisions, one who hasn't the capacity to understand "the real world". Yes, I'll follow the rules, but not without question, and, if warranted, not without a fight.

OK, but the point is that a broad brush is REQUIRED, since the principal of a typical high school may be responsible for 2000 students and 100 teachers. The options are simple: Create a set of LCD (Lowest Common Denominator) rules that apply to everyone with the least amount of fuss, or try to manage a giant group of people using flexible rules that require a lot of effort.

In this case, too many students use iPods or cellphones inappropriately (with respect to maintaining the teaching environment), and in order to preserve said teaching environment, those devices are banned... not just from operation, but from even being seen.

And questioning the rules does not require BREAKING the rules. If you think a particular policy is unfair, too harsh, or just plain dumb, take it up with the responsible authorities. But breaking the rules just because you think they're dumb isn't going to work.

I'll thank you to not use that as an example. It is much too close to home.

Sorry, didn't realize till just now that you are near Columbine. My bad.

 

[ColoJohnBoy]

Well, I actually went to Columbine. Thank you, though, for your courtesy.

 

[faintember]

Yes, I'll follow the rules, but not without question, and, if warranted, not without a fight.

Questioning the rules is fine, and i actually support questioning rules, and breaking them, however i tend to aim that portion of my mind/intrests into breaking the laws and norms of music.

Keep in mind we are talking about a iPod. Jeez, the kid could get it back. I remember when teachers took things from students and you did not get them back until the end of the year. It is a simple rule to follow, so bring a cd player to school instead of the iPod (that is if cd players are even allowed at the OP's school). Or better yet, wait until school is over then listen to music until your heart is content.

See, as a teacher you are expected to follow the rules. Why? Because if you take Johnny's iPod from him when he has it out to show to a friend, and you don't take Sally's iPod which she is using to make an audio recording of the class, then you open yourself to problems legally. Is it silly? Of course. Does it make sense in the trial-happy world that the US lives in? Yes. Teachers want to cover their asses and i do not blame them.

I really wish that we could trust students with iPods out in class, but undoubtedly there will be a few students that abuse the privilege and then a rule has to be made, for rules, and laws are typically aimed at the minority of a group of people. If it were a magnet school for music and performing arts i could see them allowing iPods, it just makes sense that students studying music should be listening to music all of the time, but in a traditional school environment an iPod is not necessary or warranted. The problem is that the OP was talking to another girl to play funny songs on the OP's iPod, so not only was he not paying attention, he was helping to inhibit another students ability to learn, and that is where the problem lies.

 

[AmericanIdiot12]

i think it would be hilarious if he printed this out and brought it in sort of like a petition

 

[AmericanIdiot12]

why don't you tell them you have a school project saved on it, and that you need to finish working on it while your in flori-da.

knowing gwinnett co. (georgia of course) he would get iss for lying because all these rednecks here know you cant save a school project to an ipod

 

[BrianDavid0523]

Serves you right Missey! I hope you learned a lesson from this.

 

[weg]

your allowed to have ipods/ cell phones out before and after school but if they even see an ipod even if its turned off they take it away

another kid today got his taken away for checking the time

Ask your congress man to bring up the issue of changing the constitution.. every American should have the right to carry an iPod. I'm sure Steve Jobs will help you found a National iPod Association ;-)

 

[mox358]

Sad State

To me this reinforces the idea that american high schools are becoming less and less of an educational environment and more of a prison. I remember when I was in high school (5 years ago?) and my teachers were very, very good at yelling at students, writing up detentions and handing out in-school suspensions. Their competence to teach however was a little lacking.

Are teachers becoming less interested about actually TEACHING and more interested about being in-control and flexing some muscle? Are high-school teachers on a giant power trip these days?

We weren't allowed to have cell phones at my school, but not because it interfered with learning. Originally it was ok, but apparently the school noticed a big decline in the use of a pay-phone that was installed for students to use during lunch. Whoever made the money from that pay-phone got pissy, and we had a cell-phone ban so that you had to use the pay-phone to make calls. Ridiculous? You bet!

I worry about the US educational system as it is. I had quite a few teachers who didn't actually know that much about the subjects they were teaching. I also had a lot of teachers who were "in it for the sports", meaning they were only teaching so they could coach a sports team. One teacher refused to help me with algebra 2 homework because she had a cheerleading meeting EVERY DAY. I had another teacher who was the football coach. He came into the classroom (about 5 minutes after the bell) handed us tests, gave a reading assignment, or put on a video, and left and went out to the weight-room with the football players. That man wasn't in his own classroom for a total of 2 hours a semester.!

I understand that we need to get students to pay attention and not play with their iPods. But perhaps the best way to do it would be to increase the quality of teachers in american high schools so that the student actually wanted to learn, and would not bring their iPod voluntarily. Granted you should be able to use it on a break ( transit-time, lunch, etc...). The american educational system needs to have the plumbing fixed as it stands right now. Just my 2 cents.

 

[puckhead193]

those cell phone rules things are stupid. If your not listening to it in class then their should be no problem...if its a disraction then you shouldn't have them, that's my philosophy.
WHen i was in HS i had a laptop so i just listen to music/movies on my laptop... HAHA

 

[wrxguy]

I had to drive from CA to FL for work in June and in Texas my ipod's HD crashed and i had to wait till Miami to get a new one...it was hell...you need to get your pod back NOW....i haven't been in high school in about 4 years now but I tell you that is ********...

 

[Eniregnat]

I am sorry that your iPods were taken. There are far worse things to have confiscated. While expensive and fun, they really aren’t going to get you in trouble. Firecrackers, home made comics or stories, and pictures of the vice principle on a date with somebody other than her husband... that kind of thing gets you in real trouble- except with the vice principal.

It is sad that lots of people can just think and be on their own with out technolgy. It saddens me when I see Americans in foreign countries listing to iPods and the like, when they could be soaking in the local culture. The same hold true to PSP users and people who can't take a moment to stop reading. While country music may not be your thing, it isn't going to kill you. At best you gain some insights into you family, and at worst you know what the elevators will be playing in Hell. For me, if I end up in Hell I know that I will be hearing smooth jazz, and the Devil will have my iPod.

 

[Mord]

that sucks, makes me glad i go to a school where i can use my ipod in class, go to the toilet when i want, wear whatever cloths i like and have teachers that i acctually like as people . people complain about my school, but it acctually rules compared to most others.

 

[jiv3turkey748]

that sucks, makes me glad i go to a school where i can use my ipod in class, go to the toilet when i want, wear whatever cloths i like and have teachers that i acctually like as people . people complain about my school, but it acctually rules compared to most others.

dude i want to go to your school
time to move to england

 

[Mord]

the only bad thing is the head is a windows nazi, though i'm friends with the system admin who is a linux geek he gave me all the proxy info and WEP keys to use my ibook on the school wireless network, oh and i can use my ibook to do all my school work on, and the odd session of EV nova when i have finished my work, heck in maths i had a street fighter II turbo match between me and my math teacher with snes9x, and he kicked my ass .

 

[yellow]

Less iPoding, more studying (of English).

 

[AmericanIdiot12]

What I want to know is, Do you understand the concept that they have established these rules for a reason, and you DON'T get to question them? You may think it's dumb, but guess what? It's not your decision. I may think speed limit laws are dumb, but that ain't gonna stop a state trooper from pulling me over and yanking my license if I drive 90 miles per hour.

You're in school to learn, not to talk on the phone or listen to music. If the rules had an exception for lunchtime, that would be one thing.... but they don't.

this is blowing it totally out of proportion. speed limit laws are to keep you from losing control and DYING or killing other people. that ipod rule is there to keep you from distracting other people.

i definately agree ipods should be confiscated if they are being used or shown off in class without permission

but come on...lunch is the only break (>20 minutes) in the day of four 1 hour and 30 minute classes (i go to the same school as jiv3turkey)

were not exactly complaining that the rule was enforced but were complaining that the rule is as strict as it is with as few exceptions as it has

the reason speed limit laws are the way they are is because representatives of the people voted them to be that way. the same should be true for school rules such as that...the students should get some say via a representative

 

[rjphoto]

(i go to the same school as jiv3turkey)

Well, did he get it back before the trip??

 

[Mord]

Less iPoding, more studying (of English).

i dont take English, in the UK you specialize in the four subjects you like at 16 and then three at 17, thus i do what i actually enjoy physics maths and electronics, not being stuck in lessons which i'm held back by my dyslexia.

 

[AmericanIdiot12]

Well, did he get it back before the trip??

nope.

i think he had his ibook though which is just as good (though it has half the battery life)

 

[clayj]

this is blowing it totally out of proportion. speed limit laws are to keep you from losing control and DYING or killing other people. that ipod rule is there to keep you from distracting other people.

It's not blowing it out of proportion if I'm trying to prove a point, which you actually do for me later on in your post. Yes, the iPod rule is in place to eliminate distractions from the learning process.

i definately agree ipods should be confiscated if they are being used or shown off in class without permission

Well, we agree on something.

but come on...lunch is the only break (>20 minutes) in the day of four 1 hour and 30 minute classes (i go to the same school as jiv3turkey)

So? Are you telling me that you can't go 6 or 7 hours without listening to music?

were not exactly complaining that the rule was enforced but were complaining that the rule is as strict as it is with as few exceptions as it has

Well, time to get your parents to talk to the principal about how strict the rule is. But I would imagine that the rule is that strict out of necessity.

the reason speed limit laws are the way they are is because representatives of the people voted them to be that way. the same should be true for school rules such as that...the students should get some say via a representative

Thanks for reinforcing my point for me. You do have a say... your parents make it for you. Your parents vote for the school board; the school board selects the superintendent, and the superintendent hires the principals. All those people are duly elected or appointed for the purpose of running the school system. And they've decided how best to run the schools.

Just in case you forgot, though... minors don't get to vote in real elections. It's a privilege you earn when you become old enough.