The Mallet
Texting a part of PHS lifeTuesday, October 25, 2011 By Sara Hansen
Feel a vibration in your pocket, take your phone out, and reply to the infinite amount of text messages. Hear the minute bell ring, and your class is on the third floor. You’re only on the first floor. You HAVE TO reply to all your texts before you get to class. You start to hurry, scrambling down the hall only looking at your phone. Bam! You run right into a group of scurrying kids getting to class. All your things are scattered on the floor. The bell rings. You’re late. This is just one of the many reasons why texting is bad. But what’s your opinion? Does every teacher really hate texting? Is it not just something we all do? Statistics say 75% of kids 12-17 have cell phones- 88% are texters. 64% of kids who aren’t allowed to text in class have. Texting has become an everyday thing for many of us. A majority of kids and parents feel safer with having texting; however, it can be a distraction. Teachers say it’s a problem. Schools take away phones. But some teachers have different opinions. To Mr. Gilderman, he feels if it doesn’t interfere with learning, it doesn’t really bother him. In between periods, the beginning or end of class, it really doesn’t bother him, unless it is a huge distraction. Mr. Gilderman also said for him texting is a really convenient thing for, he can mass text all his hockey players about practice, and save a bunch of time. Ms. Anderson has a slightly different approach. Like many teachers, she feels in class it’s a distraction. She also said for many kids it has a huge affect on spelling, and kids start writing in text language. Both teachers feel most people are dependent on their phones to stay connected; they want to know what goes on. Of course, students like to say they feel entirely different. Texting isn’t a distraction; we should be able to have it in class. But, in reality we all secretly know it does in fact distract us. Junior Alyssa Bennett admits she has texted in class but feels students should be focused on the class. A good idea is to wait until the end of class or when nothing is going on to text. But it is smart to have phones incase a parent, or someone has to tell us something important. Not all kids are crazy about texting, 22% of kids 12-17 do not have phones, and are okay with it. Junior Sierra Moen feels texting is annoying, makes conversations impossible, and distracts from nearly everything. Try to think about not having texting, would you be able to do it? A majority of us have to admit we wouldn’t. But doesn’t that show how badly we depend on texting? Texting is not only a problem in school. It’s also a scary distraction for driving. Have you ever been in a car with something texting and driving? 48% of kids16-17 admitted they’ve texted while driving, 40 % say they’ve been put in danger because of it. Students Anthony Rogentine, Jenny Asanovich, and Hannah Bergman have signed a pledge not to text and drive through the organization “:fwd”, a program trying to cause less distractions, not only through no texting, but doing make up, eating, or anything that can cause a distraction. The flashy green bracelets are reminders every time not to be distracted. They hope to get the word out and many kids will take the pledge. Could you take the pledge? Would you stay true to it? We all have to admit; texting is a distraction and can be dangerous while driving. We also can admit it’s helpful to make plans quicker, change plans, and get a hold of people instantly and many other convenient things. But we should all try to be more responsible with our phones in school, in our cars, and in our lives. |