BALTIMORE – Baltimore County school administrators are discussing ways to win the battle against cell phone use in the classroom.
Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers is working with the Baltimore County Teachers Association and other stakeholders to discuss how to eliminate student distractions in the school day.
“Smartphones and school time just don’t mix,” Rogers said. “Sixteen BCPS middle and high schools have volunteered to test a new program that uses bags to restrict cell phone use to reduce distractions and disruptions in the classroom.”
The Baltimore County Teachers Association and other school unions will meet with district leaders five times this school year to discuss various solutions to combat the problem of cell phone distraction.
“Impact on teaching time”
Advocates say cell phone use during school hours poses several safety risks for students, including recording arguments, online bullying and an obsession with social media.
Instead, parents say students’ attention should be focused on their teachers rather than their phones.
“The impact on class time, distractions, safety issues related to students’ access to the Internet,” said Ramona Basilio of the Baltimore County Council’s Parent Advisory Council.
“It’s about privacy concerns,” said Cindy Sexton, president of the Baltimore County Teachers Association. “People are being recorded without their knowledge or at least without their permission.”
“It’s about their future”
Parents like Folake Osoba, who has a child in grades 6 and 11, say the mobile phone initiative requires everyone to get involved and that it starts at home.
“Try to talk to them about why we say no. Not because we don’t love them, but because it’s also about their future. Their future starts now,” Osoba said.
Simone Volikas, vice president of the Dulaney High School Parent Council, says parent involvement and engagement is a great help to teachers.
“BCPS has already set rules and I think we constantly put too much pressure on teachers,” Volikas said. “We need to bring back the respect.”
Parents say the social media generation is evolving along with rapidly growing technology, and educators and parents are facing great difficulties in their fight to protect the mental faculties of our future.
“If they rely on the use of these mobile phones from now until eternity, what will become of their future? What will become of us as parents?” Osoba said.
