Taking Control of Texting in the Classroom

Yesterday I was chatting with a science teacher at well-regarded public high school whose classes are geared for the most motivated and high-achieving students. She lamented the extent to which even these students now use their cell phones to text each other while classes are in session, with some students taking frequent "restroom breaks" specifically for this purpose.

The problem is widespread and, at least in her school, appears to have no solution. School officials won't ban or confiscate the phones, students won't relinquish them (even temporarily), and the connection between paying attention in class and comprehending often very complex material appears to be lost on everyone.

Here is a situation that, for students and teachers alike, somehow needs to be addressed and remedied. When student behavior interferes with the educational process, administrators should not shy away from considering all relevant aspects of the problem and implementing policies to resolve it. Nor should school officials be afraid to punish those students who ignore the regulations and disrupt—even silently—the educational process for others.

Even strict rules about the use of cell phones during class won't prevent some students from covertly texting each other. But firm, enforceable policies at least convey the message that, when it comes to the classroom, not everything goes.