Chairman of the Portsmouth Town Council Mayor Vernon Daniel is supporting the decision to ban cell phones in the classroom.
Education Minister Petter Saint Jean had announced that the ministry would soon implement a new policy that would prohibit the use of mobile phones in supervised school sessions on the island.
This decision was taken following the 21st meeting of the Education Ministers of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and is to be applied to all OECS islands.
“I think cell phones in schools is a major distraction. First of all I am very technology savy and for the students who want to cheat, they can cheat with the cell phones,” Daniel told Dominica News Online.
“Then a lot of the students are not conscious of the fact that their ring tones will disturb the class and that there are students with short attention spans [although] there are students that don’t really care sometimes,” he stated.
Daniel is convinced that a cell phone is not necessary in obtaining a proper education as many students in the past who had no cell phones did so.
“One ring or anything from that cell phone can change the entire setting of the classroom, so my whole thing is cell phones should not be allowed in the classrooms. During the days that I went to school there were no cell phones and the students did much better,” he said.
He added: “If you have an emergency, you go to the principal’s office where there is a phone. The cell phones must be collected before the students enter the classroom with names and cards to identify. When you leave at the end of the day you collect your cell phones but cells in the classrooms is not acceptable. That’s my view.”
The education minister had said that under this new system students would not be allowed to use mobile telephones during class, while on the school compound or during any school activity.
“All cellular phones must be turned off. In the cases where a student is found using a cell phone during school hours or on the school’s compound, then the principal would be within their right to confiscate it,” Saint Jean had said.
calm down people! me as a student can noticed about that fact !cellphones ? oh yeah cellphones ,,can be a threat for us student! why? in fact cellphones are a handy technology now , some of my classmates use their cellphones while the discussion is going on they couldn’t control their hand to type a mssg to reply if there are someone sending SMS for them !in fact we cannot tell nor demand those student if what they gonna do in fact we coudn’t read their moves and minds ryt? only those well educated person can do these matter that cellphones must be prohibited in classroom . i guess the adviser had a power to collect those cellphones when they are lecturing their lesson ryt?
What role do cell phones have to play in the learning process? The answer is NONE. Ban them in the classroom already, period.
@bb: BB there is nothing sotiwee about my style or the way I do my parenting. I am probably one of the strictest parent alive, but I also teach my kids to be responsible. Nothing will distract their school work unless they allow it too, not even cell phones, a proven fact in my house. I have two straight A sons. Guess what both of them have cell phones among other gadgets. i monitor the use of those cell phones online etc and their are consequences to inappropriate use of these cell phones. Again I don’t depend on teachers or a school district to raise my kids. I do that myself. Therefore don’t believe cell phones are to be blamed for poor performance by students in schools. Discipline your damn kids and teach responsibility before they leave your house, it will make it much easier on the teachers and the education system as a whole. Remember I told you i came from a teaching family in Dominica. And although I don’t live there anymore, I know that education system better than most of you on this thread. Technology is here and it is here to stay. Use these advancements to make things easier for you and stop running away from them. Think of what is involved in calling you kid through the school system instead of sending him a quick text. Just think of the process. You disturb the secretary, find someone to contact the student. The phone line is tied up. the teacher is disrupted to ask the student to go down to the office, the student is taken away from class. All of this would be prevented with a quick text. What is sotiwee about this?
i never agree for children to have cell phone, there is no way that a child should have phone in a classroom. each should be barned in all school
this should happen long long time .
The idea of banning the use of cell phones/mobile phones at schools during regular school hours is necessary since use of these phones during class sessions can be distracting and annoying at times. When children are at school they are under the direct supervision and care of the Principal, teachers and other persons employed at the particular school they attend. If parents want to get in touch with their children during school hours they should contact the school principal through his/her secretary and the message will then be passed on to the child or the child will be called in to receive the message.
The problem of use of cell phones/mobile phones in school, however, is a direct result of what children see adults do with those very cell phones/ mobile phones. Every where you go cell phones/mobile phones are used by adults in church, meetings, especially Local Government Council meetings, and they are not being used for emergency purposes. Unless the adults stop the indiscriminate use of cell phones/ mobile phones in certain place don’t expect the children to be any different.
The use of cell phones/ mobile phones have been banned in the Law Courts, House of Assembly, Hospitals/Clinics why can’t they be banned in schools too? I support such a move and hope that those call for the ban will live by example and turn off their cell phone/mobile phone when they are in meetings and at church…
@Rocks:
Peace perfect peace! You did not get the point of what I was saying. I do think you are the one who has the crab mentality. You are a rude person. I am certain that you would not be pleased if someone stated such in a crude manner to you or addressed you in such a manner.
In the end, it will not be to your benefit to insult others because of their opinion. Have you not learnt to speak and write respectfully and amicably?
Writing on this Website, I am noticing what certain people are like and their overall attitude by what they state which is imbedded in their heart and mind.
Surely, this Website is not meant for insults but for an amicable dialogue and exchange of thoughts and feelings. Everyone could learn something from another. I will state, if you are a Christian and a practicing one at that, mend your attitude and mind your manners. You do not even know who I am. I do not know who you are. There is no reason to state insulting remarks to others. It is not a loving thing to do.
You do not own this Website. You are also expressing your thoughts. Why not do so in a Christian-like attitude? Allow others the same privilege which you are granted to express their opinions/views respectfully. You will be a happier person for it. What people sow, they reap in time and two-fold. I keep this always in mind.
Since you took me to task, I will inform you first of all, banning cell phones in the classrooms is quite appropriate.
Banning them from the school compound may not wise. Yes! They may want to make telephone calls to whoever. The fact that they bring them to school will they be able to resist the temptation of not using them in the classrooms?
If they were not using them in the classroom, the Mayor would not have been concerned about that. It is in their interest that, if possible, they should not bring their cell phones to school at all.
One of the grave concerns of this era is children speaking on their cell phones during lectures. In bygone years there were no cell phones and former students did without them. New technology pose problems, new ones and additional ones which you should realize.
There is a worldwide problem with children bringing cell phones to school and utilizing them in the classrooms. Government officials, principals and teachers are highly concerned about this lack of discipline.
Obviously, the children’s grades will drop because they are unable to concentrate on what the teacher is saying. I do think if these children are disciplined they should know that it is against school regulations to speak on their cell phones during lectures. Common sense should dictate this. Their parents could also play a part in disciplining them accordingly. They should not leave it all to the teachers.
Consider if you were having a conversation with someone and every few minutes if not seconds the person either receives a call or is making a call in your presence and you are not able to complete your conversation or speak to the person. What would your reaction be? Then, consider the school children speaking on cellphones in the classroom, a place of learning.
It is an education for you to know what is occurring in the outside world of Dominica if you are residing in Dominica.
To further make my point, I never stated that I would personally report those who talk on the cell phone during work hours. However, they do need to be reported. Some people are slackers. They love to be paid but they do not want to work for the pay. Some may not love their jobs but are there only because of the salary.
I have heard a manager fire a few of them because of their lax attitude and leaving their desks too many times a day. The many times were abnormal ones. They could not account of those times spent away from their desks.
Managers/supervisors can also see what is going on. Employers are not going to pay or keep paying employees for walking about and not performing their assigned duties. Worst yet, in this age of economical downturn. Times are not what they were previously. The easy times are gone.
One in authority could come into the area and observe them. The result of this is, they could be fired. Employers do not have the patience which they had some years ago. Times were good then.
Consider you being a conscientious and hard working employee. You took a few minutes even seconds off to go to the ladies room and you are back in a few minutes or seconds.
When you get there you notice not only one but a few people talking on their cell phone. They are not on their break or on their lunchtime. Would this be fair to you? Would you be happy to observe this type of attitude and wasting company time? How would you feel and if you are a disciplined person and hard worker?
I can inform you other employees complain about that and they are the ones who will inform the manager who will then unknowingly to the perpetrators keep an eye on them and note how many times during the day they leave their desks when they are supposed to be working.
Some of those employees may be even getting a higher salary than you do for doing the same job. I am informing you that there are employees who would report them. Never trust some employees to keep quiet.
Some of them will leave their desks to use their cell phones. They are informed that if they have to make an emergency phone call on their cell phones, inform the supervisor who will give them permission to go to the lunch room and make the call. This sounds better. In that way, they do not have to be nervous about making a phone call or fear being caught during work hours without the manager’s permission. Some computers are programmed that managers can observe employees. Also, the computers are also programmed to record every incoming and outgoing call. Employees are not able to make personal calls or speak on the business telephone for too long. Those calls are recorded. This is the technological age in which we reside in. This does not affect me. However, others are affected.
If you are not employed in such an environment be thankful. This may not last too long. As the years progress the situation will grow worst. For this reason, children must be disciplined about utilizing cell phones during class. This is the time to teach them about this type of discipline that they will pay heed and practice. This discipline will serve them well in future as they grow up to adulthood and into the work force. They should also be thankful for it.
If people do not have discipline, if they do not receive discipline of every possible nature, commencing with at home and in school, I reiterate what type of adults will they grow up to be? They are the future adults who, one day, may assume some important posts in their country or in other parts of the world. Discipline is absolutely necessary. The world in general is in dire need of disciplined people.
@ Rocks….you are a hot mess!!! You sound like one of those “sootiwe” (however that is spelt) parents…and worst of all you were or are a teacher meant to also mentor our kids. Its because of attitudes of people like you we have a whole decay of the moral system!
Why are we Dominicans so hardened? Can you use your cell phones in the court? So what is the problem. Parents say they want to get in contact with their children which is a lie. If you know your child is in class, why would you want to contact her; isn’t there an office where you can call the school? Well for those of you in the US saying that children can use phones in schools, I want the name of the school because I know many of the schools where if your child is caught using a phone it will be taken until the end of the semester; and more so the parent has to go get it from the office.
Come on people; it is school and we send our children to learn not to be texting and talking all day long; before we had cell phones we would get through the day without any interuptions.
Parents you should be the ones to support this decision; you know well that your children don’t even care to call you; they call their friends instead to plan on how they can manipulate you with their lies saying they had homework when they had none.
@lolsz: tsk tsk children…
@Realist: Realist, you have no idea what you are talking about. You need to open up your peanut brain a little more. And yes, the school my kids go to in the US, they are allowed to use cell phones and I can get them when ever I need them. You see, I don’t need a school to manage or monitor the use of MY kids cell phone I do that myself. I see who they call when they are on the phone and if it is appropriate they have to deal with me. My kids know that in my family their jobs are to bring home straight A’s and there is no negotiating around that, therefore they don’t allow cell phones or any other technological advancement to distract them as matter of fact they allow these advancement to assist them in maintaining their grades. So I don’t know what is going on at your house, neither do I care but I know first hands that cell phones are not a distraction in schools. You Dominicans need to stop making excuses for your children and start holding them responsible for their school grades…..
@teacher: You are so ridiculous…..Stealing have been a problem in our schools for how long I don’t even know. Cell phones are not going to stop stealing. If it’s not cell phones it’s something else. Yo kay toujous volez. However, TEACHER, I came from a teaching family in Dominica, My parents were teachers, my mom was an education officer, my dad is still a principal and two of my brothers are teachers. I taught in DA before I left. I know the education system in Dominica very well maybe better than most of you guys on this thread. I don’t know what level you teach but if it’s in high school, a student should not be raising his/her hands to go to the bathroom. If that’s still happening then you have a problem with classroom management. No one is asking you to stop your class to allow a student to take a phone call. I am saying that the student should politely excuse himself from the classroom to take a phone call.
@Truth, Justice and Peace: You are talking garbage and exaggerating the situation. Of course you can’t drive using a cell phone or eat while driving. They are both dangerous so that’s a mute point. However, the Mayor said to ban cell phones on school compounds and that’s ridiculous in this day and age. He strayed away from the point of banning them in class rooms and extended it to school compounds. You have to remember every student situation is different. Some students do have to set up business meeting outside of school and might need to take a phone call to confirm a meeting (I am sure you are not going to understand that), some kids take care of older family members and need up to date information, why prevent the kid from receiving a phone call? We Dominicans have a judgmental tendency and believe if something didn’t happen to us then it didn’t happen. We need to stop making excuses for our students and allow them to take responsibility for their school performance. Use of a cell phone will not allow you perform poorly unless you allow it too. Having a girlfriend/boyfriend in school will now allow you to perform poor unless you allow it too. Let’s allow our students to be responsible for their grades and stop trying to babysit them.
Now Miss or Sir about your cell phones at work, base on everything you say I can tell you fit nicely in the crab in the barrel mentality. Why would you want to report anyone if you see them using their cell phones at work? You don’t know why they are doing it? For example I work am contracted to work 8 hours a day at my job, I routinely work 12 hours and sometimes go in on the weekends. If i need to pay a bill online, call my kids doctor’s office or check something online period where do you want me to do it? Do you know it would cost my company more money to drive to my kids doctor’s office to get some reports where I can just call. I wish you report me cause my boss would laugh at you. You need to grow up and open your mind a little more. Allow the kids to take responsibility for their actions.
Mobile phones have NO place in the CLASSROOM whatsoever.
Many people have no sense of etiquette about the use of their mobile; it’s all about me, me, me and no thought about others in the class and yes it does alter the whole mood and train of thought in a classroom.
I have heard mobile phones in lectures and seminars. The seminar leader always has to remind people to turn their mobiles off or there is a large notice at the front of the room or hall to turn all mobiles OFF. In one case in an interview, the interviewee’s mobile rang and she answered the call, needless to say that was not one of the qualities you would expect in a prospective employee.
They are distracting in a CLASSROOM, and even when on silent mode, the owner cannot resist furtively reading and sending text messages while holding the phone in their lap.
Mobiles should be handed in at the start of class and collected at the end.
In the case of emergencies the parent or guardian must speak to the principal or head teacher by telephone to explain the emergency and contact the child.
There is nothing at all backwards about a policy which bans mobile phone use in the classroom nor does it indicate backward thinking by the policy maker, instead it shows concern for ALL students, shows concern about the learning process and shows concern for teaching consideration of others and good manners the latter which is so sadly lacking in many homes.
And yes, there is a concern about using mobile phones to cheat when in an examination and anyone caught using their phone whilst in an examination hall should be escorted out of the hall immediately and their papers failed.
What is the point in having a policy which is not upheld and monitored?
The religious leaders will also be calling on the banning of cell phones in churches!
Students can bring their cell phones at school. But if used during instruction time, the phones should be taken away and a fee should be taken for returning it.
No cell phones during class simple and plain. Some of our ppl are too unmannerly and ill disciplined. A conducive environment for learning needs to be created and too many of these teenagers are irresponsible. Some of our parents and guardians are doing a poor job at managing their children thus these children are so irresponsible. You are a shame to the Dominican community!
Ban the cell phones now!!!
I think people are to ignorant to the fact. When I was in college the first rule was to turn off all cell phones. If any one were caught with our phones on our desk we were sent out of the class. A class that we pay our own money for. It was just a form of principle that we had to abide by.
We as parents are to naive to the fact.
In my work place I cannot use my phone in my office. If I have to use my phone I has to walk away from my desk and go the the staff lounge to use my phone. If I am in a staff meeting the phone has to be off. Even though we are into modern technology but we cannot make it be part of our life.
In the US there are bans on phones in the schools. There is presently a school in Brooklyn that no children can walk in the school with a phone in their book bag. The parents protested by the law stood strong.
So not bash the mayor for supporting the statement of the Minister of Education.
Come on Dominicans or parents do not be naive. If there is an emergency call the school or the school will call you.
Without the phones and televisins we learned and made our parents proud.
@Rocks:
FYI, this same rule has just been implemented in all schools in Barbados, are their thinking like crabs in a barrel too? This is why our society is in such moral decay. When we sit by and let everything technology wise just get shoved down our throats and don`t put in place ways of regulating them, we open up ourselves and our country to all kinds of perversions. Look at the American society today. Is this how you want your lovely Dominica to become?? Where children divorcing parents, parents afraid of disciplining the kids, kids out of control, children unable to pray in schools etc…
I totally agree with this article and the Minister of Education. I just can`t understand why school children need to have cell phones in school. If your parent has and emergency and needs to contact you, then I don`t see why they can`t phone the principal`s office. Sometimes children get so distracted by ring tones and phone apps that they can`t concentrate in school. Look at the performenace level of young kids today especially the high schoolers, it has greatly decreased from my time going to school. We didn`t have cell phones, we didn`t have internet, but we learned and di so very well I might add.
@Rocks:
You are talking a lot of nonsense. Cell phones are not a distraction? Wherever you reside you should know better than that.
The topic is consideration of banning cell phones in the classroom. It is a wise consideration which should be implemented for the good of the students, if they do not pay heed.
The penalty should apply to everyone and not only a few, if caught. If they are not banned there will be a few who will somehow try to use them in the classroom.
It is bad enough talking on cell phones at school. This also occurs in work places. Employees are warned against this in addition to utilizing the Internet for personal reasons. If they are caught talking on their cell phones as well as accessing the Internet, the latter, if not work related they could be immediately fired. There are some employers who will terminate their employment immediately.
I have noticed that there are some employees who take advantage of this. Some of them sneak around to see if the manager/supervisor is present. If he/she is not, they will use their cell phones and access the Internet. Some of them are also checking their home phone for personal messages.
I have seen women, especially the younger ones speaking in the ladies room during work and even while they are sitting on the toilets. As amusing as it may sound, this is no joke. Other employees want to use this area and they are talking on their cellp hones and loudly at that. This is a good time to report them and call a woman manager/supervisor to catch them (smile). I have no doubt that some men, especially the younger ones do so.
A lot of company time is wasted due to the use of these modern-day technologies. Time costs money.
Talking on the cell phone can be distracting and fatal. A few months ago a woman was crossing the street. She was so busy talking on her cell phone, she did not notice a truck turning the corner. When she saw it, it was too late. It struck her and she died. The driver was not charged.
How about other accidents which occur in the US and Canada of all due to drivers who were talking on their cell phones? These have caused injuries and deaths.
Toronto has finally passed a law against drivers using cell phones, Ipods, texting and their Blackberries while driving. The fine is exorbitant. Yet, there are still some who have not ceased doing so. They take chances and think that they will not be caught. I do not envy them for the hundreds of dollars they will have to pay if they are caught.
I think the time is right to counsel the Dominican students against using cell phones in the classrooms. If they do not pay heed, they should be banned entirely from the classrooms.
Cell phones are useful in cases of emergency and if parents need to speak to their children outside of the classrooms.
One person stated that if there is an emergency parents could telephone the office. This is a wise statement. Therefore, do these children really need cell phones in Dominica? After school they are supposed to go home and should not be allowed out at nighttime.
I recall those days when I was a child, a student in school. It was unheard of that we would be out when it turned dark. We would go to the movies, matinee. My strict mother knew what time the movie commenced and when it ended. We, her children had to return home immediately.
This discipline will also aid the school children when they complete their studies and enter the work force. Also, when they commence driving.
Some people of the world are not disciplined. Others do not want to be disciplined and still some others will not accept it and pay heed. There is a price to pay for lack of discipline and disobedience. Those who do not appreciate discipline, they grow to adulthood in that manner.
Cell phones were devised for emergency but some people utilize them constantly to talk and what are they talking about. I realize that they are useful for business people. I do not think that these would abuse of them. However, the young people are the greatest violators of cell phone abuse. No discrimination here but stating a fact.
Cell phone manufacturers, retail stores and cell phone providers are charging and making a mint at the expense of those customers, some of whom abuse this usage. I can imagine the cost in Dominica. Smarten up! Utilize them only if absolutely necessary and in the case of an emergency.
I have a cell phone but only utilize it if absolutely necessary and this is infrequently. There are different package prices for this purpose which do not cost much. It is not to be used as a landline phone or to replace it.
Once I utilized my cell phone to telephone 911 for a sick man who was lying on the side of the road. Therefore, they do serve a useful, personal purpose and other. As everything else, we should not abuse them just because we have one.
Furthermore, it has been stated that consistent use of the cell phone could damage the brain. Have you not heard that? Some will doubt this until it affects them.
You know what, i am so fed up! I am in the system….. how many emergencies do your children ever have while at school? You talk about the advent of technology! You people sat at your homes and made the tv assassinate what little morals and values that your children had, now you demanding that they be allowed to bring cellphones in school? You think your children are hurting ? The teacher, oh please! They distract themselves and their classmates, disturb lessons, steal each other phones and you whine like puppies when we try to do something about it. Well, you know what i always say, we teach your kids but you have to live with them. Let them bring their phones and wait to see the cycle of violence that these phones will bring to our school.
i am so tired of those ministry folks who are so scared of losing their jobs that they forget to do them. Ban the phones and stop dragging your laissez-faire selves around while we face hell in the classroom. Oh i forget, your kids all go to private school.
THAT IS SOME PETTY BULL… TO COME FROM POSSE MAYOR. THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY TEACHERS AND PRINCIPAL.. WHAT YOU SHOULD ADDRESS IS THE FACT THAT THERE IS A BOAT WHICH IS IN THE STREAM READY TO CUT AND REMOVE ALL THE WREAKAGE ON POSSE SHORE… THE MAYOR PLAYIN THE SAME POLITICS LIKE THE OTHERS.
PLEASE DISCUSS WITH YOUR GOVERNMENT A WAY FORWARD FOR REMOVING THE EYE SORE
I think anything that is discussed will meet with oppositions, even though we know they are for the betterment of the people involved.
As both a parent, and a teacher, I strongly support the ban on cellphone use in supervised school sessions. Those who argue that the students use phones for constructive reasons are clearly naive and myopic. These people are assuming that the students are much more responsible and mature than their adolescent age and than most adults. It would be good to carry out a survy to fund out how many calls or texts parents receive from their chidren, while at school, although these children are always on the phone.
Apart from being distractive, we forget that in this violent age, students use their phones to call members of their gangs to come on the schools’ compounds or to meet them outside the gates so they could gang up on other students. Consider if this was your child being the subject of this call.
Emergencies must go through the schools’ office.
I don’t think the ban on phones during school sessions has anything to do with our advancement as a nation.
@ ROCKS – get out of your ignorance and get a dose of reality. If you want your children to be free to speak on ther phone when and how they want, keep them at your home or make your own school without discipline.
Fellow Dominicans, the cell phones no matter how useful they may be is indeed a distraction to students in a class room. We did not need the Mayor of Portsmouth to bring this to our attention, this should have been decided and enforced first by the student parents then by the teachers of the schools. Cell phone has no place in the class room, and should be used by a student during class in cases of an emergency only. So Mr Mayor, i applaud you for taking such a bold step.
ROCKS I am a teacher and i will not stop my class for any student to recieve or make call .Cells being used on school compound are targets for stealing and when this happens the office has to be wasting time to locate that phone. i not sure how much time you spend in a class to know what is distriction
here in the vi some schools will take that cell till the end of the school term.rules have to be obeyed.
We love our kids so much we are harming them and we don’ realise that.
We adults need to stop being ignorant. I agree that a cell phone is a necessity rather than a luxury, but think back at our level of achievement in Education compare to other Caribbean Islands and see if there’s not a problem. Rocks said that he lives in the US and it does not create a problem for them, but can we follow what US do or adapt our own. I also live out of D/ca and the school my daughter attends has never allowed students to bring in cell phones into the schools. There are still some kids that do get in with them, but if found they are suspended and they phone is confiscated. The school has offices and they have phones, make use of them. that’s what you all are paying taxes for.
Let’s keep the crime level of our youths down. This cell phones are crippling our generation.
Good! Once Dominicans start playing down the use of all the electronics like the TV, cell phones and computers, they may begin to get a sense of community coming back.
The way that these new electronics have taken over peoples lives makes one wonder how they ever did without them……….but they did, for a long time before now.
Everyone now is me, me, me. Totally self-centered and self-absorbed, selfish, greedy and has a sense of entitlement without working for it.
This attitude is not limited to Dominica. It is part of the globalists plan. Divide and conquer. That has brought many a civilization down.
If this civilzation is going to survive, people need to wake up to the real picture of what is happening instead of focusing on their own little worlds, or they will become extinct and be wiped out.
Daniel….in ur days u used encyclopedias to research. are you also going to say that the kids do not need computers? Teachers used talk and chalk in your time, are you going to say projectors are useless? Times change and we have to change with the times. this is not an argument at all. Why allu want to go through all thje stress of collecting cell phones everyday….just to waste time and have responsibility for students lost phones, or stolen? Just say any student caught using a cellphone during class will face confiscation. that the best thing to do. Dominicans too backward.
We are in 2010. Why r we still talking about banning cellphones? Dominicans just too much. Understandably students should not be allowed to USE phones in the class, but the bannin thing is ridiculous. This means that a cellphone becomes a thing only used at home or after school. We do not realize that cellphones are now no longer a luxury, but a necessity. I want to be able to contact my daughter at lunch time or at home time. So a teacher will take my child cellphone from her bag when it off, because of their stupid banning? Times change and we have to accept that cellphones are now as essential as a watch, even more so. there were days when watches were not allowed in school…do you know that???????
Why is there a discussion on this? Bann the damn phones!
OMG, cell phones should be turned off in class period. No way my professor will allow us to disrupt his class with a cell phone…LOL, and I’m not in Dominica.
I thought this was a policy already. The schools have to maintain discipline.
There is a time and place for cell phones, and the classroom is not one. If it is an emergency then parents can contact the office…
we will still use it allu not makin sense we texting and callin whole day in class teachers not seeing loooooooool
Since the advent of cell phones there are some people who are abusing it. They serve a good purpose but some people are overdoing it. Everywhere possible they are used. Even in church which is shocking. The congregation, the majority of whom are adults, has to be told to turn off their cell phones.
There are some, while eating in the lunch room, they keep talking on the cell phones. Some of them talk so loudly even while commuting to work. It is annoying. Once I had to tell a young man in no uncertain way to lower his voice. Who wants to hear what they are saying? They think that they are the only ones present.
It is a major problem. The identical problem occurs in every part of the world where school children talk on the cell phone during school hours and some text their friends and family. Even some parents call their children or text them during classes and it is not an emergency.
The school is a place of learning and cell phones should be banned in the classrooms. Surely, the children themselves should know better. They are at school to learn. How can they learn anything if they utilize their cell phone which distracts them from hearing what the teacher is saying?
Educators and teachers, beware of texting. I heard that some of the children text the answers to questions for tests to their friends in the classroom.
They should ask themselves which is more important, learning in school or utilizing their cell phone in the classroom. Those years in school are short ones and how they fly.
If they will not pay heed they will have to bear the consequences of failing grades. They are the ones who will be the losers.
Discipline is required. If they do not wish to practice self-discipline in this case, personally, if they are stubborn, I would exercise “tough love”. Take the cell phones away and when they are going for recess and lunch and going home, only then should they be returned to them.
Mr. Mayor that’s some bull..First of all cell phones are not a distraction anywhere but you guys are giving the situation so much attention, making it a bigger problem than it really is. I live in the US and kids in elementary school are now carrying cell phones because it’s a method of communication and we live in a society where everything needs to happen now including reaching your kids…
You see the real problem here is as Dominicans our thinking is too backwards. The crab in the barrel mentality. We can’t handle advancement and we are scared to see our kids develop. Before our kids talk, walk or act a certain way we want to bring them back in line. Tell me how a kid talking on a cell phone on a school compound is distracting. Mr. Mayor do you speak on your cell phone at your place of business? Does it it distract anyone. You are trying to tell me that our kids are so irresponsible and backwards (country bookie) that if they see someone speaking on a phone on school compound it’s going to distract other kids from doing their school work?
Now I agree that cell phones should be on silent or vibrate in the classroom however, teachers should be flexible enough to excuse a child to take a call if need be. Teachers need to be flexible also to know that one student might forget to turn his/her cell phone off. This will teach our kids responsibility and maturity. Our kids need to be responsible for their school work and their grades and cell phones are not to blame for lack of performance by our students.
I see no problem in having a cellphones in school on the condition that smart policies are planted. Technology is making itself unavoidable and will continue behaving like that. In the futurity there will be no need for class rooms or direct lectures but technology with fill their stead.
The policy is : use of cell phone( text, making or receiving calls, internet) is strictly prohibited and if found violating rules, the phone will b taken away for the day and student disciplined. Repeat offenders will be suspended for the day. Repeated offenders after suspension will have grades lowered by one grade down.
There is an exisiting policy that prohibit the use of mobile phones in schools, and any supervised school activity. The question is whether it is being enforced and whether it can actually be enforced. Have we evaluated the existing policy to determine the problems before we end up solving the wrong problem. To implement such a policy after the wide poliferation of mobile phones that has already occurred in Dominica, requires literal policing. Who is going to that in schools with hundreds of children? Are we going to hire special secuirty officers to do that? In formulating policies, strategies for implementation and enforcement have to be offered as well. If the issue is the fear of cheating, students who feel competent, academically will probably have no desire to cheat. I believe there is so much more in our education system to occup our time and resources, and for which polcies that mobile phones hardly rise to that level. As the teachers who take responsibility for their classes, their students would dare not use mobile phones. Notwithstanding, I still believe the use of mobile phones under conditions of teacher supervision should not be prohibited, and where there are indications that the mobile phone can be used to orchestrate mischief or criminal activities, they should be confiscated.