Texting: Students Spend Class Time Texting

According to a recent study by the creators of an app called textPlus, 43% of teenagers use their cell phones to text during class.  Many kids hide their cell phones under their desks, in pockets, or in their backpacks to avoid getting caught by teachers or school administrators, and use texting for things like gossiping and flirting.

Indian River School Board Member, Donna Mitchell, of Delaware, says that some students have even snapped photos of tests and texted pics to their fellow classmates.  “They’re so adept that kids can text without even looking at it.”  Mitchell’s school district has banned cell phones during school hours, and violators are prohibited from participating in extracurricular activities for up to twenty days as punishment.

Some students admit to texting, but say that their parents often text them with reminders to pick up a sibling, or to take the dog out.  They see people texting all around them, and believe that students simply shouldn’t abuse the technology while in school.

Eunique Lawrence, a teacher at Brandywine High, uses texting as a communication tool with her students and has a separate number just for student-texting.  “It’s a great educational tool as far as reaching the students,” she says, “We can’t really beat them, but we can join them.”

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