stabbing outside of pella middle school

[CYdTracked]

Just saying that I've seen firsthand what can happen. Both daughters had friends whose parents did this and it very much heightened their levels of anxiety and depression... feeling left out and cut off, wondering what was being said about them, being made fun of, etc. I know this because I heard them talk about it themselves.

I'd never tell anyone how to parent their kid. And I 100% agree that so many of these apps and social media in general is a very toxic and damaging cesspool. All I'm saying is that I don't agree with others who think taking their phone away is some magic bullet that will make everything better.

I do agree that during the school day phones should not be allowed.

We had the big argument with our 5th grader before this school year about getting a smartphone and we compromised by getting a Gizmo smartwatch and limited who she could text and call and what apps she could have on it. Our school district completely banned both phones and smart watches during school hours after we bought it so that just reinforced our decision even more as she can't even use it during school now. The first week of school one of the neighbor girls down the street in her grade was already texting some boy and "pranking him" is what my daughter said. We found out a few days later her mom reported the boy to the school because he sent her something inappropriate. We didn't find out what it was but our guess is it have been a picture or something inappropriate in a text. It provided us with another teaching moment with our daughter about why she won't be getting a smartphone for at least a couple more years because kids her age just aren't mature enough to use them appropriately.

Our pastor who has a daughter about the same age as ours just dropped a new study/series of videos on the book "The Anxious Generation" by Johnathan Haidt. Below is a video clip of the author who is a social psychologist talking about it on The Daily Show. The main theme of his book is examining adolescent mental health trends and how technology and social media is a big reason behind the rise of this. My wife just bought the book and I think I probably will read it and do this study with her as I am intrigued about this subject now that our kids are getting to the age where their friends are getting smartphones and we've been holding firm that kids in elementary and middle school do not need them.

The Anxious Generation | Jonathan Haidt

 

[clones_jer]

I'm talking about not giving them smart phones in the first place.

I realize that being left out can be damaging, but I think we're at a point where it's like "yeah, all your classmates are smoking and I wouldn't want you to be left out of that". That's how dangerous I think smart phones are for adolescent minds.

When it's a school-wide ban, no kid is getting left out on their own.

That's the point though, they're needed for phone calls and texts in student safety situations.
Until schools can guarantee a safe environment and up to date information I'm deadset against banning phones.
Be an adult and ask that they be put in bags or lockers or even on a separatr "phone table" during each class, but banning altogetrt is asking for a mass causlty event imho.

 

[madguy30]

That's the point though, they're needed for phone calls and texts in student safety situations.
Until schools can guarantee a safe environment and up to date information I'm deadset against banning phones.
Be an adult and ask that they be put in bags or lockers or even on a separatr "phone table" during each class, but banning altogetrt is asking for a mass causlty event imho.

I can see both sides of the phone situation but teachers simply asking or directing a kid to do this will get met with resistance from one student, then more, then it can lead to the teacher being the one to get in trouble for redirecting the kid because 'their needs weren't met' or some other b.s.

Then the kid will not do well, and then the teacher will get blamed for that, for not establishing a better connection in order for the kid to do the basics.

I'll stop now.

I'm glad this situation in Pella wasn't worse and is hopefully resolved in some capacity.

 

[MJ29]

That's the point though, they're needed for phone calls and texts in student safety situations.
Until schools can guarantee a safe environment and up to date information I'm deadset against banning phones.
Be an adult and ask that they be put in bags or lockers or even on a separatr "phone table" during each class, but banning altogetrt is asking for a mass causlty event imho.

How can schools guarantee a safe environment in this version of society? Blame the lawmakers, not the schools.

 

[NorthCyd]

I disagree completely. I'll have a kid starting school in a few years and I hope they ban cell phones in school. I won't be giving her a phone that does anything more than call or text until she's over 16 either.

Kids being glued to smart phones is a massive ******* problem and we need to not let it continue, societally.

A basic call/text type of phone? I'm fine with a kid having that. But no apps or internet.

Two of my kids have smart phones and there are a ton of parental features available that let you limit what your kid does. You can lock down app installations, put time limits on usage, and see what they are doing on their phones. So absolutely no social media apps, they need permission to download other apps, and time limits has kept excessive usage in check. My oldest doesn't really need it. She doesn't spend much time on her phone other than streaming music. The younger child maxed out her time limit frequently for a while when she first got it last spring but she doesn't use it near as much now.

 

[BCClone]

How can schools guarantee a safe environment in this version of society? Blame the lawmakers, not the schools.

It’s parents. Not anyone else.

 

[Tailg8er]

That's the point though, they're needed for phone calls and texts in student safety situations.
Until schools can guarantee a safe environment and up to date information I'm deadset against banning phones.
Be an adult and ask that they be put in bags or lockers or even on a separatr "phone table" during each class, but banning altogetrt is asking for a mass causlty event imho.

How does kids having cell phones in school prevent a mass casualty event?

 

[LancelotClone]

very thorough email just came out from the principal.

confirmed knife brought in from outside & two students treated for non-life threatening injuries.

this was the communication we wanted 2 hours ago, but better late than never. I'm sure the principal has been part of the incident response and this is his first moment at a computer.

Knowing people who help create, train for, and execute responses to school situations, it is usually the parents reacting who create the clusterf@ck.

Prime example, wanting a full and thorough email essentially while the situation is still ongoing is completely irrational, but commonplace.

 

[bos]

It’s parents. Not anyone else.

Or general support environment (or lack there of). Parents, family, friends etc. A lot can influence a path.

 

[crs8975]

I disagree completely. I'll have a kid starting school in a few years and I hope they ban cell phones in school. I won't be giving her a phone that does anything more than call or text until she's over 16 either.

Kids being glued to smart phones is a massive ******* problem and we need to not let it continue, societally.

A basic call/text type of phone? I'm fine with a kid having that. But no apps or internet.

Back in my day.... haha, but seriously. We had snake and Tetris. That was plenty. They really don't need access to anything else before a certain age.

 

[TitanClone]

We had a kid when I was a freshman in high school about to stab someone during lunch. Thankfully he was slow about it and a few kids saw him and were able to take him down before he did anything. Sounds a lot like how this kid was described, new kid, quiet and a bit off. Never got bullied that I know of but didn't really have friends.

 

[CascadeClone]

How can schools guarantee a safe environment in this version of society? Blame the lawmakers, not the schools.

It’s parents. Not anyone else.

I tend to agree with BC.

My rationale is poor parenting is the root cause of these problems, so those same poor parents (and lots of others in society) voted for lawmakers to push all those problems off to the schools to solve.

The schools have been asked to do so much that used to be the parents role. Discipline, socialization, self-esteem, et al. Scope creep. Teaching someone math or english is a much different skill set than being a therapist - which is what a lot of that scope creep resembles. I don't think its even a matter of funding really, even if you hired a ton of full time therapists and more teachers, the scope creep means there's just not enough time in the day. I can't blame the schools, given what they are asked to do and how they are allowed (or required) to do it.

The result is less focus on education and learning, meaning dumber kids, meaning lots of other societal problems. I worry about a death spiral for our society, which requires citizens with some semblance of education and knowledge.

People used to argue about 1984 vs Brave New World being more likely. Well, I think Idiocracy is taking the lead in that argument.

 

[BCClone]

Or general support environment (or lack there of). Parents, family, friends etc. A lot can influence a path.

Wife and her friends say that come parent teacher conferences, the ones who show are the good students. They will schedule with the lower scoring students but the parents no show. Will email and seldom get responses. If she disciplines, they are the ones who blame other kids and feel their kid shouldn’t be punished even for stuff they started. My kids, they were punished if I got contacted. I didn’t curse the teacher out.

 

[Trice]

That's the point though, they're needed for phone calls and texts in student safety situations.
Until schools can guarantee a safe environment and up to date information I'm deadset against banning phones.
Be an adult and ask that they be put in bags or lockers or even on a separatr "phone table" during each class, but banning altogetrt is asking for a mass causlty event imho.

Who's gonna tell him?

 

[CascadeClone]

The phones issue - its simple. Kids should be allowed to have their phones on them. But they should absolutely not be allowed to use them in class! Teaches them responsibility and how to act like a grown up.

Why is that so hard to enforce? And yet, it is. I don't get it.

 

[BCClone]

I tend to agree with BC.

My rationale is poor parenting is the root cause of these problems, so those same poor parents (and lots of others in society) voted for lawmakers to push all those problems off to the schools to solve.

The schools have been asked to do so much that used to be the parents role. Discipline, socialization, self-esteem, et al. Scope creep. Teaching someone math or english is a much different skill set than being a therapist - which is what a lot of that scope creep resembles. I don't think its even a matter of funding really, even if you hired a ton of full time therapists and more teachers, the scope creep means there's just not enough time in the day. I can't blame the schools, given what they are asked to do and how they are allowed (or required) to do it.

The result is less focus on education and learning, meaning dumber kids, meaning lots of other societal problems. I worry about a death spiral for our society, which requires citizens with some semblance of education and knowledge.

People used to argue about 1984 vs Brave New World being more likely. Well, I think Idiocracy is taking the lead in that argument.

Guidance counselors are now psychologists most of their time it seems instead of helping them with college and careers like I was used to.

 

[tman24]

The phones issue - its simple. Kids should be allowed to have their phones on them. But they should absolutely not be allowed to use them in class! Teaches them responsibility and how to act like a grown up.

Why is that so hard to enforce? And yet, it is. I don't get it.

because teachers have lost so much power in the past decade that even if the teacher said put your phone away, the kids will not listen.

 

[BryceC]

I tend to agree with BC.

My rationale is poor parenting is the root cause of these problems, so those same poor parents (and lots of others in society) voted for lawmakers to push all those problems off to the schools to solve.

I have a very hard time believing parents who can’t busy themselves enough to care for their kids are putting a lot of thought into who they vote for.

It’s very easy to see why we are where we are, as a society we don’t want to be seen as giving up on kids.

 

[ISUTex]

Most educators don’t like sudden change. They plan every minute of their days out. There is no event like this that is typical. So no matter the amount of planning, it’s unlikely to be smooth anywhere, less likely in a school. Not knocking educators, school needs structure and most are talented in that area, these events are anything but structured.

Especially when you have all of parents freaking out (I would to to be honest). Good luck having that go orderly.

 

[WooBadger18]

The phones issue - its simple. Kids should be allowed to have their phones on them. But they should absolutely not be allowed to use them in class! Teaches them responsibility and how to act like a grown up.

Why is that so hard to enforce? And yet, it is. I don't get it.

Part of the problem is you’re dealing with motivated kids and it’s one teacher (who’s also trying to teach) trying to keep track of 20-30 students.

I went to school before smart phones, but I had classmates who could text without looking at their phone. That’s going to be difficult to police even if your sole job is to pay attention to the kids