To Text Or Not To Text?

By Breanna Ostrander

With new technologies emerging all around us, cell phones and texting have become a big problem in classrooms. Hiding behind friends and desks make it easier to hide phones while texting. Here at Hopkinton High School, students know teachers quite well, and know which classes are okay to text in. Having this information, students use their learning time to engage in conversations with their friends. This may lead to a drop in grades, which has some teachers concerned.

Math teacher, Lisa Lulka believes that around 20% of her students text during her class because they are not able to disconnect from their phones. Many others believe that the percent of “texters” is much higher, around 70-80%. Lulka strongly discourages texting; she makes a basket is available to put phones in after getting caught.

Even so, this does not seem to phase students who don’t care if they get caught. When asked, Dana Kuntz said she would argue with a teacher about taking her phone away. Kuntz is not alone in this battle with the teachers, as many students rebel against the teachers about confiscating phones. Although teachers will ask those students to leave if a fight emerges, it doesn’t seem to bother some.

There is a trend among students who believe if their grades are high enough, they should be allowed to text in class. Evidence to support this is proven by the fact they are receiving high grades and texting in class. This shows students are able to balance talking to friends, and concentrating at the same time.

While many students are busy texting, there are some, though few, who turn their phones off during school. There are many ways teachers deal with students texting in class, such as taking the phone or having them leave the room. Although those seem to be the most popular responses, some teachers believe that, “If I can’t see it, then it’s fine,” is a way to deal with the students texting. This may benefit the students who are texting, while it also may take away from their education. After all, are students going to school for socialization, or to broaden their minds?