Comments on: It Takes a Vision http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/ Learning with the Read/Write Web Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:36:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mrs. Durff http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/comment-page-1/#comment-24637 Mrs. Durff Sat, 09 Jun 2007 04:03:22 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/#comment-24637 What about just as a communication device? A parent might just need to contact their child! RSS homework reminders can be delivered to cell phones - some cool software does it easily....and listening to educational podcasts and what about listening to music while writing....oh my! Let's legislate learning out of the schools too... What about just as a communication device? A parent might just need to contact their child!
RSS homework reminders can be delivered to cell phones – some cool software does it easily….and listening to educational podcasts and what about listening to music while writing….oh my! Let’s legislate learning out of the schools too…

]]> By: Gary Stager http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/comment-page-1/#comment-22216 Gary Stager Thu, 24 May 2007 17:33:18 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/#comment-22216 Do we really need to teach cellphone use? If so, get ready for the complaints that we're stuffing one more thing into the overcrowded curriculum. Lawmakers completely understand this issue (IMHO). Their worldview suggests that kids are subservient to adults. Education is about compliance and therefore kids should be controlled. Trusting children to behave responsibly undermines that mindset. My larger point is that we need to choose our battles and don't need to be drawn into every kooky bruhaha. Do we really need to teach cellphone use? If so, get ready for the complaints that we’re stuffing one more thing into the overcrowded curriculum.

Lawmakers completely understand this issue (IMHO). Their worldview suggests that kids are subservient to adults. Education is about compliance and therefore kids should be controlled. Trusting children to behave responsibly undermines that mindset.

My larger point is that we need to choose our battles and don’t need to be drawn into every kooky bruhaha.

]]> By: Will Richardson http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/comment-page-1/#comment-22197 Will Richardson Thu, 24 May 2007 10:25:57 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/#comment-22197 Gary, Ok...c'mon. My point is not to trivialize the larger issue but to suggest that there is a total lack of understanding by lawmakers as to why we need to include some of these technologies into the curriculum both as a communication/information device and as a way to teach the ethical uses of the tools they are already using. I always appreciate your comments, but that feels like a little deep digging on your part. Best, Will Gary,
Ok…c’mon. My point is not to trivialize the larger issue but to suggest that there is a total lack of understanding by lawmakers as to why we need to include some of these technologies into the curriculum both as a communication/information device and as a way to teach the ethical uses of the tools they are already using. I always appreciate your comments, but that feels like a little deep digging on your part.
Best, Will

]]> By: Gary Stager http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/comment-page-1/#comment-22188 Gary Stager Thu, 24 May 2007 06:32:47 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/#comment-22188 BTW: I know of day care centers that ban toys. It should come as no surprise that cellphones are feared and prohibited. BTW: I know of day care centers that ban toys. It should come as no surprise that cellphones are feared and prohibited.

]]> By: Gary Stager http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/comment-page-1/#comment-22187 Gary Stager Thu, 24 May 2007 06:32:02 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/#comment-22187 Will, I think we make a big mistake by digging so deep to find an educational rationale to combat such legislative stupidity. Googling a definition to a word via cellphone will hardly convince a legislator (or administrator) from banning such devices in school. In their world view, school is about order and compliance. We should argue that schools over infringing upon the rights of chilren and their families. Legal devices should be legal. Period. A few years ago I wrote a column about how my daughter's high school banned cellphones and that placed her safety at-risk when she left drama rehearsals at 10:45 PM on a dark campus where the payphones (I doubt they even have them anymore) were locked up for their protection, but my kid was on her own. Creating a climate of mutual respect and civility is the reason why kids should be allowed to have phones AND expected to have them off during class. When will we acknowledge the unpleasant truth that we don't love children too much in our society? We should do what is morally right without the necessity of some trivial curricular justification. BTW: How many cellphones go off during your presentations to educators? A NY judge just ruled against kids in favor of the NYC Schools banning cellphones on campus. Will,

I think we make a big mistake by digging so deep to find an educational rationale to combat such legislative stupidity. Googling a definition to a word via cellphone will hardly convince a legislator (or administrator) from banning such devices in school. In their world view, school is about order and compliance.

We should argue that schools over infringing upon the rights of chilren and their families. Legal devices should be legal. Period.

A few years ago I wrote a column about how my daughter’s high school banned cellphones and that placed her safety at-risk when she left drama rehearsals at 10:45 PM on a dark campus where the payphones (I doubt they even have them anymore) were locked up for their protection, but my kid was on her own.

Creating a climate of mutual respect and civility is the reason why kids should be allowed to have phones AND expected to have them off during class.

When will we acknowledge the unpleasant truth that we don’t love children too much in our society?

We should do what is morally right without the necessity of some trivial curricular justification.

BTW: How many cellphones go off during your presentations to educators?

A NY judge just ruled against kids in favor of the NYC Schools banning cellphones on campus.

]]> By: Teaching and Developing Online. http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/comment-page-1/#comment-22142 Teaching and Developing Online. Wed, 23 May 2007 16:35:48 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/#comment-22142 <strong>It takes a Vision...</strong> The thing that bothers me most when I see legislators, either national or state or local, putting up bills that are supposed to “protect” kids or make schools safer, is that none of them have a clue as to the...... It takes a Vision…

The thing that bothers me most when I see legislators, either national or state or local, putting up bills that are supposed to “protect” kids or make schools safer, is that none of them have a clue as to the……

]]> By: John Roch http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/comment-page-1/#comment-22138 John Roch Wed, 23 May 2007 14:49:37 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/#comment-22138 Sooo.. this would cut out laptops too. Sooo.. this would cut out laptops too.

]]> By: Geoff S. http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/comment-page-1/#comment-22135 Geoff S. Wed, 23 May 2007 14:39:15 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/#comment-22135 The beauty of laws like these (and the rules we set in the schools) are that the kids can't see a hint of relevance or reason in them, and so they blow them off. I'm guessing in our school more students follow the speed limit than the cell phone rule. Eventually they'll be the legislators and they can erase such laws from the books. Maybe we should be convincing more of our senior students to run for state office? The beauty of laws like these (and the rules we set in the schools) are that the kids can’t see a hint of relevance or reason in them, and so they blow them off. I’m guessing in our school more students follow the speed limit than the cell phone rule. Eventually they’ll be the legislators and they can erase such laws from the books. Maybe we should be convincing more of our senior students to run for state office?

]]> By: A. Woody DeLauder http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/comment-page-1/#comment-22128 A. Woody DeLauder Wed, 23 May 2007 12:51:46 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/#comment-22128 I think that this problem lies within a deeper problem in our society. We, as a society, have been fed fear through media and government for as long as I have walked on Earth. What the government can't control they teach us to fear. One student uses a camera phone to cheat on a test: ban the camera phone. One little league baseball player gets hit in the face with a ball: make the kids wear face shields. I wonder why cars havn't been banned?? there are accidents every day. Our government finds it necessary to create a law for every small unfortunate accident or for the actions of one person. It's ridiculous!!!! I think that this problem lies within a deeper problem in our society. We, as a society, have been fed fear through media and government for as long as I have walked on Earth. What the government can’t control they teach us to fear. One student uses a camera phone to cheat on a test: ban the camera phone. One little league baseball player gets hit in the face with a ball: make the kids wear face shields. I wonder why cars havn’t been banned?? there are accidents every day. Our government finds it necessary to create a law for every small unfortunate accident or for the actions of one person. It’s ridiculous!!!!

]]> By: James O'Hagan http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/comment-page-1/#comment-22127 James O'Hagan Wed, 23 May 2007 12:43:41 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/#comment-22127 For the love of it, say this is a joke. What's next? Kill all laptop programs? Why not get rid of the calculator? How about the Sharpie Pen? Ballpoints are a little suspect with their abilities to be converted in to dangerous spitball launching platforms. Gum isn't banned yet... lots of clean up costs there. Oh and the chalkboard... all that dust can really damage those children with dust allergies. Paper? Well, don't get me started on the dangers of paper, what with its sharp edges and all. Valuable classtime is lost when a student has to go to the office to take care of those traumatic papercuts. I think I will just crawl in my grave now. For the love of it, say this is a joke. What’s next? Kill all laptop programs? Why not get rid of the calculator? How about the Sharpie Pen? Ballpoints are a little suspect with their abilities to be converted in to dangerous spitball launching platforms. Gum isn’t banned yet… lots of clean up costs there. Oh and the chalkboard… all that dust can really damage those children with dust allergies. Paper? Well, don’t get me started on the dangers of paper, what with its sharp edges and all. Valuable classtime is lost when a student has to go to the office to take care of those traumatic papercuts.

I think I will just crawl in my grave now.

]]> By: As Canadian as Possible... under the circumstances http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/comment-page-1/#comment-22089 As Canadian as Possible... under the circumstances Wed, 23 May 2007 04:14:27 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/#comment-22089 <strong>Teachers who blog, or is it bloggers who teach?...</strong> Earlier this month, I led a workshop at the wonderful Teachers Who Write (PDF) conference in Montpelier. Sponsored annually by the Vermont Council of Teachers of English Language Arts, The National Writing Project in Vermont, and the Vermont Departmen... Teachers who blog, or is it bloggers who teach?…

Earlier this month, I led a workshop at the wonderful Teachers Who Write (PDF) conference in Montpelier. Sponsored annually by the Vermont Council of Teachers of English Language Arts, The National Writing Project in Vermont, and the Vermont Departmen…

]]> By: M. C. http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/comment-page-1/#comment-22084 M. C. Wed, 23 May 2007 02:48:30 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/#comment-22084 I think for these legislators it is easier to ban digital communication devices than embrace the teachable moment. Most legislators are not and were never teachers (so "teachable moment would not be in their vocabulary). What drives me crazy is when political appointees pop up in educational positions for which they have no experience. The power of the business model takes over...and the children are left behind. Behind in 1975... I think for these legislators it is easier to ban digital communication devices than embrace the teachable moment. Most legislators are not and were never teachers (so “teachable moment would not be in their vocabulary). What drives me crazy is when political appointees pop up in educational positions for which they have no experience. The power of the business model takes over…and the children are left behind. Behind in 1975…

]]> By: Scott McLeod http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/comment-page-1/#comment-22079 Scott McLeod Wed, 23 May 2007 00:55:05 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/it-takes-a-vision/#comment-22079 I posted on this too: http://tinyurl.com/25xesh Our policymakers need help! I posted on this too:

http://tinyurl.com/25xesh

Our policymakers need help!

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