From GMA News:
MANILA, Philippines — As school starts on June 1, the Department of Education (DepEd) reminded pupils on Friday that cell phones will be forbidden inside the classroom.
Radio dzBB’s Allan Gatus quoted DepEd assistant secretary Teresita Inciong saying DepEd Order No. 83 in 2003 already noted the tendency of cell phones to disrupt classes.
Inciong said the order, which bars the use of cell phones during class, applies to elementary and high schools nationwide.
She said teachers who catch students violating the order will call their parents to a meeting and will bring the matter to their attention. - GMANews.TV
Some of these DepEd officials need a smack on the head for ignoring technology and its use in the classrooms. Cellphones can be used to help students do research – since DepEd cannot ensure that students have access to computers connected to the internet. Imagine this scenario – talk about science and then ask the students to use their cell phones to access Google. Students can share “load” and use a single phone to do their research, if they all cannot afford to spend 10 pesos for 30 minutes of internet access. This is just an example on how Filipino students can use the tools that students in developed countries use. Unfortunately, DepEd chose to do otherwise — to make sure that our kids cannot compete globally!
Ringing cellphones are a distraction, I agree. However, students can be asked to put their phones in silent mode and to step out if they think that the call is important. Students can even be told not to answer phone calls or sms during class. However, an outright ban is simply STUPID.
In a lecture that I gave not too long ago, an educator mentioned that students tend to read and send SMS instead of listening to the lecture. Whose fault is that? The student? Maybe. However, I stressed that it is more the fault of the teacher! The reactions of these educators were priceless! I told them that students will refrain from doing these unnecessary tasks if they are part of the class – involved in the discussion, participating. Unfortunately, teachers tend to talk to the black/white boards instead.
So – if the teachers engage the students in their classes, mobile phones need not be banned outright. Use mobile phones to aid their learning instead of sending our students back to the Bronze age.
