UWCSEA east campus has a new rule this school year, no electronic devices besides the schools laptop during break and lunch only for middle school students and teachers but is this rule really fair? On September 2nd, a high school teacher was spotted walking out of the middle school office during lunch time on her phone. Later in the day, a high school student walked down the stairs, texting. High School students were opening their laptops, even so, they weren’t even working on school appropriate work but playing computer games and watching videos on youtube.
The rule only applies to middle school teachers and students and not high school and junior school teachers and students. How is that fair? Is it because high school students are more mature? Maybe. Is it because the school doesn't expect junior school kids to have their own phones and electronic devices? Could be. But the question is, is it fair to middle school students. No, not at all. Almost everyone has a electronic device these days, thanks to the popularity of the companies Apple, Samsung and Microsoft. It isn’t fair for the middle school teachers either.
What about some of the teachers that teach both middle and high school? Does this rule apply to them? Students are seen in the science hallways frantically typing on their laptops to finish a assignment they forgot to do at home, there are already middle school students that are already breaking this rule, won’t seeing the teachers use their devices encourage the students to use their own technology? Emergencies come up and a phone would be useful for the students to call their parents, this rule would prevent them from using their phones and having problems. Is the rule useful then?
The school should consider the consequences of a rule before making them. Rules should be considered thoroughly before made, enabling that the rule does not upset many people, then it would restrain disagreements. A rule has its pros and cons, but if the cons overpower the pros, the rule would just make our lives more complicated.
Written by Karen
I am an 8th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA. My students are new to Investigative Journalism. They read and have responded to various articles you have written. Although we are not ready to blog individually, I would like to share their response with you:
ReplyDeleteWe enjoyed your article "MS Rules vs. HS rules", although we disagree in one area. You asked is it fair to the middle school students, "no, not at all." We think that it is fair because high school students are older and are also more responsible. Also, they already went through middle school without technology.