the pacifier

So imagine what a content one and half year old child would do if you were to take away the pacifier on which he is so happily sucking. Are you picturing a major freak out? Screaming? Kicking? Crying? Well, that is what happens when you take away a cell phone from a fifteen year old. This is one of the most frustrating things about teaching high school. Kids with cell phones. They text constantly and I can only do something about it if I *see* the actual phone. When I get close it is already shoved back in the pocket. So irritating. I do not even blame the kids. They are walking around with something in their possession that excites them and makes the feel good about themselves. They feel a new *text message* come in and how can they not check? Even I would want to know. And the only way to ensure they'll get another is if they hit reply. No. I do not blame the kids for their lack of will power. I blame their parents. Their parents should never. ever. ever. let their sons/daughters take a phone to school. It is the most unnecessary device to have. Do they even understand that it is impossible for teachers to compete with such a device? It is bad enough they are sitting there dreaming of myspace and parties but to have an actual instantly gratifying tool within arms reach makes things a million times worse. When you take it away... literally, screaming, swearing and tears ensue. Sure some, hand it over, defeated but understanding but those cases are rare. Sometimes it even takes someone from the outside to come search the classroom and every student until the phone that has "gone missing" reappears. I seriously cannot think of anything else during my teaching career that has caused such a temper tantrum. (Well, except maybe the time I took away food.) 

How to make teens turn into little babies...