Family on the Phone » parents

Cell Phones And Cheating In School: Where Are The Teachers?

Amy — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:45:03 +0000

A new study by Commonsense Media shows that 1/3 of all students with a cell phone has cheated at least once with their phone. They do this by texting, going online and by storing information on their phone. Amazingly 52% of teens admitted to some form of cheating using the internet. A whopping 1 in 4 students doesn’t feel what they are doing is considered cheating. Of course, out of 76% of parents, although they believe it happens at school, only 3% think their child has cheated. Imagine that!

Now, are these results that remarkable really? No, not really. From writing on the hand to passing notes, kids have always found a way to cheat. Most parents will stick their head in the sand on this issue. Little Johnny would NEVER do that!

My question is where are the teachers? I was a substitute teacher for a while. I never sat at my desk during a test. I walked the room constantly watching and letting the students be very aware I was watching. Students are less likely to even attempt to cheat if they know they are being closely watched. Ask them, they’ll tell you. If I saw a cell phone, I took it until the end of class. Simple. I may not have caught every cheater, but I bet I deterred a lot of cheating and stopped others dead in their tracks.

I know many teachers that use test time to grade papers and do other administrative work only glancing up occasionally. In this day of technology, that isn’t going to work anymore.

Cell phones are not to blame here, although they certainly are the accomplice. Teachers need to be more proactive and parents need to focus on instilling more about the value of honesty in their children. (But, that is a whole other blog post.)

Just my .02 for today.

photo credit: jennie-o

Numbers You Absolutely MUST Program Into Your Cell Phone

Amy — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:28:08 +0000

Just about everyone has a cell phone these days. Even ‘Tweens, those 8-12 year olds, are getting them. We get them and give them often to be safe or “just in case”. What if a “just in case” happens? Will your or your child’s phone have the appropriate and necessary numbers programmed in? In a worst case scenario, you will not remember numbers and looking them up or calling 411 will waste precious time.

This week on Family on the Phone, we are going to go over the numbers you must have programmed in your phone. Be sure to share this vital information with your friends and family too.

Numbers to Program into Your Phone

ICE or In case of emergency. This is a number or more than one if you need it (like ICE 1, ICE 2) that you program into your phone for emergency personnel to contact your loved ones in case of emergency and you are not able to give them this information. This program was started back in the mid 2000′s and promoted more heavily in 2005 by a British paramedic. Emergency personnel know to look for ICE in your contact list if something should happen to you.
Your Home number.
You and your spouses work number.
The non-emergency police number.
Family Doctor.
Family Dentist.
Local Hospital.
The pharmacy you use.
Your mechanic.
A towing company.
Utility companies.
Your child’s closest friends. You’ll appreciate this one if your child is unaccounted for some day.
Everyone’s number in the house who has a cell phone.
Local relatives.
Your Bank
Your Credit Card Companies
Your Insurance Agent
Your children’s school office numbers.
Daycare

Numbers to Program Into Your Children’s phones

ICE (See above) For your child’s phone, make sure you use the ICE1 and ICE2 to list more than one emergency contact such as your and your spouse, older siblings, a neighbor, etc.
You and your spouse’s cell phone number. List them as Mom and Dad.
Home number if you have one.
Work numbers for Mom and Dad.
Hospital.
All local relatives. List them as Sister, Brother, Aunt Mary and so on. (This may seem redundant but not all people coming in contact with your child in case of emergency are emergency personnel and may not know about ICE.
Towing company (for your older children who drive)
Mechanic (again, for your driving children)
Local Cab Company

photo credit: doobybrain

Family Cell Phone Survey Reveals Lots of Rules For Teens

Amy — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:59:40 +0000

Recently, we did a family cell phone survey. One question we asked was regarding rules you had laid down for your kids and their cell phones. Do any of these rules sound like rules you have in your own home?

Some rules were related to safety.

No driving and texting
No answering calls or texts or calls from unknown numbers.

A few rules were about school or church.

Phones taken away if grades drop or school work not completed
No using the phone on the bus or at school except for emergencies
No taking the phone to church

Many parents are teaching their children responsibility with rules regarding their cell phones. This includes using the cell phone after a certain time in the evening.

If parents call, they must answer
They have responsibility to monitor minute usage; if they go over, they pay the difference
Limited downloads; only with prior permission
No obscene texting, phone calls or pics
If grounded, cell phone is the first thing to go
Parents can examine phone and/or records at a moment’s notice
No going to bed with cell phone in the bedroom-phone stays on charger downstairs or in parents room
No cell phone after X time at night
No texting or phone calls during dinner
Time limits on phone calls-no marathon calls
No letting friends borrow the phone