Educators lack common sense
 

http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/05/06/call.suspension.ap/index.html

Another fine example of a "zero tolerance" policy gone awry.

Sounds like the problem wasn't so much that he took a phone call when he wasn't supposed to, but that he was a dick about it. In addition to that, if he knows he's not supposed to use a cell phone at school, why did he have it with him, much less on?

I had a teacher who would ask a kid if what ever he were doing was worth a detention. If the kid would agree to detention, he would let him keep going, and usually not give the detention if it were truely worthy.

According to the story, students are allowed to take/make calls during lunch hour.

I can understand the student being upset, especially if it has been a while since he spoke with his mother. And you don't get his side of the story. Did the teacher ask nicely, or demand he turn it off?

The teacher/monitor could have handled it much better, IMHO.

You're right, my mistake. No cell phones during school hours.

However, I don't buy the slippery slope argument. Each case is unique, and it's not that hard to verify someone's father/mother/brother/sister is in Iraq.

I don't think the little b*stards need cell phones either, but I think the punishment far outstrips the "crime" of not wanting to hang up on a relative calling from a war zone.

Cut the kid some slack. The kid is 17. His Mom is in a war zone. The media have reports of all kinds of people being killed every day...

I remember the same sort of arrogant behavior on the part of teachers and being treated like cattle...

"Francois said he told the teacher, This is my mom in Iraq. I'm not about to hang up on my mom."

A modicum of respect is what was needed, simple human decency to let the kid talk. Read this report it is much better:

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/11575912.htm

"Francois said the teacher tried to take the phone, causing it to hang up."

Who the f#@k is this teacher to grab a phone?? Let him finish the call and take the punishment... And the teachers are hiding behind the fact the kid was not arrested? They are luck they dont have a black eye.

They should have handcuffed him...

"Now being that his mother is in Iraq, we're not trying to cause her any undue hardship; he was suspended for 10 days."

- With grammar like that, he's probably better off at home... ;)

.....to the back of a black audi...then dragged him...

...to an R-Gruppe photo shoot?

I wish I believed that common sense failures were limited to just educators.

Too funny. The article is not very complete, so I shouldn't say a damn thing. But if it is anything near what it sounds like (the mother was really in Iraq calling at night), then the kid should have stood his ground and taken the supension.

If it were me, and all of this is for real, I'd never go back to that frickin' school. This is from the guy that took more than one test back up front to the teacher and told him/her that if they can't watch any better for the cheaters, they weren't going to get any test from me, especially if they were grading on the curve. And then I walked my ass to the principal's office before they could even issue a notice.

I have very little respect for the mass educational process know to me and used in this country.

WOW!!! That's twice in ONE year that you and I have actually agreed on something in OT! :D

There IS hope for a better world! ;)

Randy

More on the story:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/05/06/phone.iraq/index.html

I spend half my time teaching reps, managers, maint techs and engineers. Other instructors are real pricks about cell phones ringing. I always say "before we get started, lets turn the cells to vibrate, by all means take the call - it could be family, business or a booty call, all of which deserves more attention that me, just take it out side." the participants always respect that. Been doing it your years and never had a problem.

If I ever get the opportunity to teach in college - I would do the same.