Comments on: HPISD to Allow Personal Electronic Devices in Class

By: Student

Student — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:10:32 +0000

I am a senior at HPHS, and all I see from this plan is fierce opposition from the students. The administrators are several years late to the party. Since my freshman year, in nearly every class people have already been using their phones and other devices constantly. Of course many use them to text and play games and browse the internet, but some people do use them academically. I confess that I am one of those people that can spend the entirety of a class period playing with a wireless device. Particularly in senior year, many classes are not very challenging, even if they are AP, and there is much free time during the class, so it is very easy to get distracted.

I know for a fact that almost every person that “agrees” to this new thing will be breaking what they agreed to, because the restrictions are absurd. Almost everyone checks Facebook sometime during the school day. Our wireless devices are a crucial means of communication between other students. The admins are going to have to construct a bigger prison/dungeon/basement, because every single student is going to end up in there for breaking the “rules”.

By: AngieSunrise

AngieSunrise — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:44:17 +0000

@HpUpmom now that is dangerous.
If it were my kids in that situation, I would not sign the agreement.

By: Avid Reader

Avid Reader — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:06:30 +0000

@Teresa, That will end very quickly when they see the first kid suspended and their iPad or iPhone legally confiscated after they are found to have violated whatever agreement they should be having to sign.

By: Teresa Edwards

Teresa Edwards — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:06:20 +0000

You have got to be kidding me. Students will not be allowed to text, access unprotected sites, etc.? What genius thinks they can stop them? Students in our school teach the teachers how to get around the fire wall! Don’t think for one minute that if you allow students to use their tech devices that they are going to abide by “rules and regulations.” What planet do you people live on?

By: Police Blotter Predictor

Police Blotter Predictor — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:36:58 +0000

Bad News: The theft of iPhones and MacBooks will skyrocket.

Good News: Craiglist tech sales will boost Plano’s economy.

By: HpUpmom

HpUpmom — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:59:57 +0000

Read that agreement. And then please explain it to us ! .. Also you give up your privacy. Rights as the school can now legally search your phone contents

By: DemBones

DemBones — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:46:56 +0000

@AvidReader. We got some emailed agreement we parents have to sign–which I haven’t yet read–so maybe content is addressed.

I hope this doesn’t create pressure for kids to have the latest and greatest devices, like “everyone else.” Also, there could be a stigma attached to having to always use the school equipment because you don’t have your own. We’ll see.

By: DemBones

DemBones — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:42:00 +0000

“Students will still not be allowed to use their phones for texting or calls during class”

That used to be true but doesn’t seem true anymore.

By: Love it!

Love it! — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:53:27 +0000

I’m not sure about allowing this at MIS (5th and 6th), but I think it’s fantastic for the middle and high schools. Students can take pictures of the “blackboard” (smart board or whatever they call it), can text the teacher questions instead of raising their hands, and can look up information instantly for a class discussion. It’s really exciting. Benefits outweigh negatives.

By: Avid Reader

Avid Reader — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:40:05 +0000

I think this is the right move. However, those with a 3G enabled device will easily get around the filtering progam if they want. The answer to that is to have everyone who wants to use one of these personal electronic devices to sign some kind of agreement on what content they are allowed to access with a suspension or something as punishment for violation.