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> Monday, February 23rd, 2009 > Opinion > Letter to the editor... A ringing distraction Letter to the editor... A ringing distraction Michael Tanton Click here to read more Interrobang articles written by Michael Tanton Published: Monday, February 23rd, 2009
Cellphone activity within a classroom is prohibited by the instructors for good reasons. A ringing cellphone emanates disruptive sound, and in some cases vibrations. This distraction causes the entirety of the class to lose concentration, and angers the professors. The irreparable loss of potential academic success is exponentially magnified amongst the innocent listeners of these classroom catastrophes, and still it goes on. When a phone rings people turn to see what the noise is. This turning redirects their focus from the professor to the cellphone owner. It usually takes the owner several seconds to locate and disarm the telecommunications device. The teaching professional then makes an attempt at regaining focus on the task or lesson at hand. The entire process can take several minutes. What must be instituted is a system whereby any ringing cellphone may be confiscated at the presiding professor’s discretion. After that point the professor would deposit the cellphone with attached student information to the lost and found, where it would be held for a specified time of a few hours. When the student in question goes to retrieve their cellphone, they’d be required to pay a fee of $20 for the first offence, and doubling for each offence thereafter. Of course this is a legal amount, as my first suggestion would be to charge an arm and a leg for the device, literally. This design would undoubtedly force all cellphone owners to either leave their cellphones at home, in a locker somewhere, or on vibrate, but even choosing a vibrate setting is no excuse when the phone vibrates on a desk or against a loud surface. For anyone willing to dispute the restriction of cell phones at Fanshawe College, one should first refer to Article 3.4.1 under Examples of Prohibited Conduct in the Student Code of Conduct which reads: “Disruption or obstruction, by action, threat, written material, or by any means whatsoever, of any College activities, or other authorized activities on or in the facilities of the College; preventing any person from carrying on his or her legitimate activities, whether or not it involves speaking or associating with others.” In conclusion, cellphone use in the classroom setting is destroying focus, and eliminating potential for success. The entire occasion may be dwelled upon by learners and instructors alike, ultimately causing incalculable grief in the long term. If everyone would obey the rules set forth in the written policies, then the world would be slightly more educated, and slightly less irritated.
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