A Life of Crime starts with Texting

[3113]

Let this be a lesson to all you texting maniacs!

A 14-year-old high-school student has the dubious distinction of being perhaps the first American ever arrested for texting in class. The Wisconsin girl was charged with disorderly conduct last week after refusing to stop texting during her math class and then denying she had a phone, according to a police report.

"The School Resource officer at Wauwatosa East High School was asked to go to room 242 and remove a student who refuses to stop texting on her phone during class," the Wauwatosa Police Department officer wrote in his report....the arresting officer gave the student a a $298 ticket for disorderly conduct and kept the Samsung...Wauwatosa East High School has a policy against texting during classes. The situation would not have escalated if the student had followed the officer's instructions...Lt. Dominic Leone told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "The arrest was more for her behavior than for the texting...All she had to do was put the phone away and that would have been that."

Clearly, the student loved her Samsung Cricket. She didn't give it up easily: After repeatedly denying she had it to both her teacher, the school officer and the police officer, the phone was finally revealed after a body search by a female officer...The student also apparently gave false phone numbers to the arresting officer, who wished to tell her parents what was happening...the student was suspended for a week – but apparently the time away from school was too much to bear. The recalcitrant student received citations Thursday and Friday for trespassing on campus...The student is due to appear in court April 20th to deal with the misdemeanor charge.

Full story here.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Where is corporal punishment when we really need it?

 

[DesertPirate]

The truth would have so much easier

 

[The_Fool]

Kind of bemusing. I was reading the Electronic Usage policy for one of the local school districts.


It's an always on, always connected kind of society.

 

[cantdog]

Even the teachers feel the wrench when they have to place themselves off the web of interconnectedness, by virtue of being at work. I am friends with several teachers, who feel the loss when they shut down at work. But a policy like that is nearly universal.

And, I'm sure, for good reason, and all.

You know.

Still, the top jobs hiring this year didn't exist in 2004. We are trying to train children to do jobs which likely do not yet exist, using technologies we have never seen, to solve problems we can be fairly sure are not yet even thought of. Maybe the on-line, interconnected life will actually be more use to them.

The amount of unique information likely to be generated this year will exceed that generated for the past 5000 years. There are fiberoptics which can transmit better than 200 million phone calls a second down a single strand. Information tech is increasing exponentially.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Even the teachers feel the wrench when they have to place themselves off the web of interconnectedness, by virtue of being at work. I am friends with several teachers, who feel the loss when they shut down at work. But a policy like that is nearly universal.

And, I'm sure, for good reason, and all.

You know.

Still, the top jobs hiring this year didn't exist in 2004. We are trying to train children to do jobs which likely do not yet exist, using technologies we have never seen, to solve problems we can be fairly sure are not yet even thought of. Maybe the on-line, interconnected life will actually be more use to them.

The amount of unique information likely to be generated this year will exceed that generated for the past 5000 years. There are fiberoptics which can transmit better than 200 million phone calls a second down a single strand. Information tech is increasing exponentially.

The object of education isn't to train children for jobs. That's impossible. The object is to teach them to learn. When the solipsistic little wench is too busy gossiping with her text messages to learn anything, she is already a self-appointed failure. The rest of us can't afford that. She needs to be able to carry her own weight in the economy.

 

[TE999]

Given the pace of emerging and evolving technologies, everything electronic we know now will be museum pieces in a year. A discless hard drive is in final testing, which will make 'puters smaller and immeasurably faster...and render all others obsolete.

It would cost far less to have school at home for everyone via 'puters. With no physical plants to maintain, taxes could be reduced and teachers would be under less pressure to be wardens and could actually teach.

 

[Weird Harold]

The object of education isn't to train children for jobs. That's impossible.

In many ways, going to school is everyone's very first job. Children get paid with knowledge to learn to show up on time, do a set of tasks to someone else's satisfaction and abide by an explicit set of rules.

 

[slyc_willie]

In many ways, going to school is everyone's very first job. Children get paid with knowledge to learn to show up on time, do a set of tasks to someone else's satisfaction and abide by an explicit set of rules.

Which, in no way, includes their use of technology. In fact, I might argue, going to school tries (or should) to teach the basic fundamentals of acquiring knowledge and applying that knowledge without resorting to extraneous devices. Personally, I don't like to hear about computers in a classroom, but I understand that kids of this latest generation are going to grow up with them anyway. Might as well try to instill a sense of respect and control toward such devices.

In the restaurant where I work, I see people from 16 to 60 using cellphones and other devices to the point of extreme annoyance. I wish we had some kind of magical 'dampening field' around the building that would kill all reception to such devices save those used by police officers and other such personnel. There have been many a time when I have approached a table where one or more people have been jabbering away on a cell, or playing a game, and I've simply walked away without introducing myself. I don't get paid to be someone's beck-and-call Nancy. I get paid for providing top-class service.

The case in point is just a symptom of a disease which promotes disrespect and a failure to honor basic social traditions. In the last ten-fifteen years or so, we as a culture have strayed widely off the mark of recognizing those around us in any way other than as annoyances. It's a sad state of affairs, but I hope it can be reversed before we turn fully into a nation of users.

 

[Weird Harold]

The object of education isn't to train children for jobs. That's impossible.

In many ways, going to school is everyone's very first job. Children get paid with knowledge to learn to show up on time, do a set of tasks to someone else's satisfaction and abide by an explicit set of rules.

Which, in no way, includes their use of technology. In fact, I might argue, going to school tries (or should) to teach the basic fundamentals of acquiring knowledge and applying that knowledge without resorting to extraneous devices. ...

I have a lot of problems with the curriculim and educational theory of the modern educational system, but tha has nothing to do with the fact that the formal, public, school system is structured to reinforce conformity and prepare students for employment (in factories.)

That's not a disparagement of the basic structure of the school system, BTW. I think the school system has lost sight of that particular element of preparing students to be good citizens and productive members of the community. That is the minimum that public schools should impart to students; preparing them for higher education and/or technology oriented employment.

It is also the reason that I'm opposed to "distance learning" over the internet or TV -- at least through the elementary grades. Formal, schooling is many students first exposure to the word 'No' or any expectation of them doing something they havent been bribed or cajoled into doing.

Parents who send their children to first grade without any exposure to the word 'No' can hardly be expected to make them sit a computer and learn.

PS:

The case in point is just a symptom of a disease which promotes disrespect and a failure to honor basic social traditions. In the last ten-fifteen years or so, we as a culture have strayed widely off the mark of recognizing those around us in any way other than as annoyances. It's a sad state of affairs, but I hope it can be reversed before we turn fully into a nation of users.

I think the "disease" is a direct result of the school system forgetting it's basic, mimimum task of teaching children society's rules and expectations instead of family oriented rules and expectations.

 

[rydia57]

Hmph....

Fourteen is too young to have a cellphone,anyway. Not to mention a blackberry. But the kid lied cos they knew it was gonna be taken away from them.

 

[Weird Harold]

Hmph....

Fourteen is too young to have a cellphone,anyway. Not to mention a blackberry. But the kid lied cos they knew it was gonna be taken away from them.

Both of my granddaughters have cell phones, they're fourteen and eleven. They have cell phones, because of specific conditions that dictate they be able to contact their mother without having to search for that extinct and obsolete fixture called a pay phone.

Of course, my granddaighters have both abbused their cellphones -- ONCE -- and discovered that not having an allowance until the excess charges were paid off wasn't worth violating the rules they were given for using their cellphones.

The child in the original article may have been alive for fourteen years, but she's apparently still in her terrible twos -- when most children learn not to lie and to understand "stop that!" She may not need a cell phone, but she's far from a typical fourteen-year-old, too.

 

[rgraham666]

I agree with Harold. School's purpose is to teach conformity. Which is just as well because humans prefer conformity. Strange behavior endangers the troop.

As far as the original post goes, texting is a crime? WTF?

 

[Weird Harold]

I agree with Harold. School's purpose is to teach conformity. Which is just as well because humans prefer conformity. Strange behavior endangers the troop.

Actually, I wouldn't go quite that far -- if it's doing the job it was designed for, it should also be teaching non-conformists what the limits of non-conformity are(or should be.) IOW, school should teach the rules society lives by without stifling individuality.

Humans are indeed most comfortable with conformity and predictability, but they also tend to idolize the constructively non-conformist -- if the latter have learned the limits of non-conformity in school or elsewhere; school is generally the first chance they have to learn about "painting themselves blue" to survive.

 

[sutherngent985]

If...and I stress the word if...I ever allow my child to have a cell phone before he is able to pay for it himself, you can bet that I will have limits on everything he does on it. Texting, how many minutes a month he can use, everything. And I would get him a phone that doesnt have a camera or the ability to receive email if I have to buy one off ebay that doesnt. A guy I work with has a phone like that...wonder if he would sell it?

When I was in school they still had corporal punishment...I think they need to return to the paddle. Do they even have detention anymore?

I agree that school does have a purpose besides teaching the 3 Rs...it teaches (or should) kids how to be social beings. I also think though once a child reaches a certain grade, they should be allowed to take courses that interest them, within guidelines set by the BOE.

 

[rgraham666]

I think you mean corporal punishment. Kind of extreme to kill a kid for infractions, don't ya think?

But corporal punishment has the same problems as capital punishment, as I found out growing up. I got the strap more than a few times.

For being consistently late. Which was to avoid the bullies that made my life hell. If I showed up on time they'd be waiting for me.

For not using the proper entrances to the school grounds. Which was for he above reason.

What did the bullies get? A stern finger wagging, about once a year.

 

[sutherngent985]

I think you mean corporal punishment. Kind of extreme to kill a kid for infractions, don't ya think?

But corporal punishment has the same problems as capital punishment, as I found out growing up. I got the strap more than a few times.

For being consistently late. Which was to avoid the bullies that made my life hell. If I showed up on time they'd be waiting for me.

For not using the proper entrances to the school grounds. Which was for he above reason.

What did the bullies get? A stern finger wagging, about once a year.

The state I went to school in...TN...at the time had corporal punishment. I got paddled on more than a few occasions for various things, mainly talking in class. Then...I guess I was a sophmore in HS...a principal in the county school system paddled a couple of boys so hard they were bleeding and needed medical attention, this through their jeans. After that, while paddling was still permitted, they had to have the parents permission as well as a witness to prevent anything going overboard. Before, a teacher could just take a kid out in the hall and paddle them. Believe me, if I got a call from my kids school asking permission, you can bet I would give it.

 

[tickledkitty]

Sounds like the adults lost control of this situation fast, which resulted in extreme punishment for the kid. (Not that I have all the answers or anything.) Seriously, can't we make the punishment fit the crime?

 

[jomar]

Compulsive texting isn't disobedience, it's a disorder!

Just wait and see.

 

[rgraham666]

And you know what that leads to?

Communism!

 

[voluptuary_manque]

And you know what that leads to?

Communism!

And rampent homosexuality!!!!!


http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/1volupturary_manque/lol.gif

 

[sadangel]

I agree with Harold. School's purpose is to teach conformity. Which is just as well because humans prefer conformity. Strange behavior endangers the troop.

As far as the original post goes, texting is a crime? WTF?

Actually the texting wasn't the crime. It was disorderly conduct. And her lying and not giving it up kept the disorder going, so I think that "crime" fits.

She was given the option to simply put it away. She did not. The situation escelated. That's really too bad.


Very funny Rob and VM. <hides my grin>

 

[xssve]

In many ways, going to school is everyone's very first job. Children get paid with knowledge to learn to show up on time, do a set of tasks to someone else's satisfaction and abide by an explicit set of rules.

Huh. Having once been an indifferent student myself, after many years of reflection and shit jobs, I ended up seeing it a bit differently - what I tell my kids is that it's the last free thing you're ever gonna get...

 

[neonlyte]

Sounds like the adults lost control of this situation fast, which resulted in extreme punishment for the kid. (Not that I have all the answers or anything.) Seriously, can't we make the punishment fit the crime?

Make her send 1000 texts 'I must not text during class time' to the teacher?

 

[R. Richard]

In many ways, going to school is everyone's very first job. Children get paid with knowledge to learn to show up on time, do a set of tasks to someone else's satisfaction and abide by an explicit set of rules.

Yes, going to school is something like a first job. However, the employee doesn't get paid and can't realistically look for another job if he/she is being mistreated. I went to math, history, chemistry and got paid with knowledge. I went to Spanish and English and got paid with nothing. I managed to memorize enough of what the scholl called Spanish to pass the class. However, neither I, nor the teacher could converse with the Mexican kids in the school in Spanish. Never once during my time in high school English did I ever have one of my questions answered, nor did I ever receive a passing grade, except for the final grade for each class. The final, passing grade was due to the fact that I was to be the National Merit Scholarship winner and they couldn't flunk me because that would have raised a lot of questions. If high school had actually been a job, I would have looked elsewhere to earn my pay.