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Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, Fitbits and more

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Re: Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, Fitbits and more

#151

Post by Hamuko »

McDyver wrote: post #145
jhoechtl wrote: post #136

These bans will come worldwide. Soon we will also understand the realtionship between mental disorders in teens and "always on". Not to mention the distraction these devices generate in schools.

In some countries (namely Portugal and France) you are not allowed to be contacted by your employer out of office hours, so that you can get that disconnect. At the same time, children are targeted to be constantly "on" and "engaged", and we seem to be OK with that.

The general agreement for the IT services sector in Finland says that we're entitled to an hour's wage if we need to take phone calls outside working/on-call time. Two hours for 21-06, Sundays and holidays. Granted, it's one of those clauses that can be negotiated down in one's contract.

Re: Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, Fitbits and more

#152

Post by DiggyJohnson »

shiroiushi wrote: post #150
nytesky wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Between teachers phones, intercoms, cameras, and hardline phones there should be plenty of communication equipment available for a crisis. If anything having a phone could put someone in jeopardy by making noise and giving away position or distracting owner. What is the scenario that it has helped? Have police coordinated response based upon students phoned in reports and telemetry?

>Between teachers phones, intercoms, cameras, and hardline phones there should be plenty of communication equipment available for a crisis. How does that stuff help when the kid isn't actually at school, but is between home and school somewhere? If the kid can't bring the phone to school at all, then that means the kid can't have the phone on the way to school either. Allowing the kids to bring phones but lock them u…

At my school phones were instructed to be off and in lockers during school hours.

Re: Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, Fitbits and more

#153

Post by shiroiushi »

WalterBright wrote: post #107
xoa wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I stand by my assertion. How many times in your 12 years in school was instant 24/7 communication for everyone in the school been of significant benefit, or would have been if they had it? It's zero in my case. Yeah, there were no school shootings in my state in the 90s either. But since Columbine objective fact is there have been over 400 affecting almost 400k students [0], and the trend doesn't seem to be going d…

Why does a health monitor need to be in constant connection with the internet? If there's a problem, it can just beep at you. Yes, school shootings are a problem. But why does there need to be 30 cell phones in the classroom? The landline on the teacher's desk can be enough. Or even a button to turn off the jammer. For wildfire, call the principal who then hits the fire button. We had tornado drills in elementary sch…

>Yes, school shootings are a problem. But why does there need to be 30 cell phones in the classroom? The landline on the teacher's desk can be enough. Or even a button to turn off the jammer.

A single landline isn't going to help 30 kids call their parents and say a final good-bye before the shooter kills them, while the town police force stands outside.

Re: Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, Fitbits and more

#154

Post by shiroiushi »

diggan wrote: post #31
teruakohatu wrote: post #20

New Zealand just banned student mobile phones recently in all schools [1]. I would guess LTE connected devices would also count. I think banning fitness trackers is a bit much, they are very useful for sports such as cycling, running, tri & swimming. [1] https://www.education.govt.nz/school/digital-technology/cell...

> I think banning fitness trackers is a bit much, they are very useful for sports such as cycling, running, tri & swimming. The ban seems to target children too young to need to keep track of things like that, as far as I understand the article.

You don't think high school students do running or swimming, or do those things competitively?

Re: Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, Fitbits and more

#155

Post by hannob »

I mean, I somehow understand the motivation behind a phone ban. But Fitbits?

I understand there's probably a problem creating a clear separation, but in times where lack of movement and exercise is causing major health problems, we probably shouldn't disincentivize young people using fitness devices.

Re: Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, Fitbits and more

#156

Post by oldpersonintx »

xoa wrote: post #103
WalterBright wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I stand by my assertion. How many times in your 12 years in school was instant 24/7 communication for everyone in the school been of significant benefit, or would have been if they had it? It's zero in my case. Then look at the downsides, which are pervasive - inattention, disruption, distraction. If you still want it, put a landline phone in each classroom on the teacher's desk. The principal can also have a switch…

> I stand by my assertion. How many times in your 12 years in school was instant 24/7 communication for everyone in the school been of significant benefit, or would have been if they had it? It's zero in my case. Yeah, there were no school shootings in my state in the 90s either. But since Columbine objective fact is there have been over 400 affecting almost 400k students [0], and the trend doesn't seem to be going d…

if you really want to optimize for a very-low-probability event, just don't live in a school district with cellphone bans

you'll trade for a near-guarantee that your kid will have some social anxiety or attention issues...but if you really want to make sure they have a phone available in the low-probability event of a school shooting, this is the tradeoff you will make

Re: Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, Fitbits and more

#158

Post by oldpersonintx »

shiroiushi wrote: post #153
WalterBright wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does a health monitor need to be in constant connection with the internet? If there's a problem, it can just beep at you. Yes, school shootings are a problem. But why does there need to be 30 cell phones in the classroom? The landline on the teacher's desk can be enough. Or even a button to turn off the jammer. For wildfire, call the principal who then hits the fire button. We had tornado drills in elementary sch…

>Yes, school shootings are a problem. But why does there need to be 30 cell phones in the classroom? The landline on the teacher's desk can be enough. Or even a button to turn off the jammer. A single landline isn't going to help 30 kids call their parents and say a final good-bye before the shooter kills them, while the town police force stands outside.

[dead]

Re: Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, Fitbits and more

#159

Post by NeoTar »

hannob wrote: post #155

I mean, I somehow understand the motivation behind a phone ban. But Fitbits? I understand there's probably a problem creating a clear separation, but in times where lack of movement and exercise is causing major health problems, we probably shouldn't disincentivize young people using fitness devices.

I think the assumption that having a Fitbit, or other fitness device increases movement and activity levels in under-18s needs confirmation.

In fact, to be honest I'd not be convinced that it works even in over-18s.

Re: Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, Fitbits and more

#160

Post by Refusing23 »

my kid has a phone that is so boring to use (only snake, texting and calling) that he has it in the bottom of his backpack and only takes it out when he needs to call me

its truly amazing and i hope to keep it this way forever. meanwhile the rest of his class mates have smartphones and stare at it from the moment they leave their home ... and i assume till it runs out of battery. they dont even watch where they're going.

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