Although it may sound cliché and repetitive, being a student is hard. Students are expected to arrive at class on time, earn exceptional grades and learn new information year after year. It sounds easy, but in reality, many obstacles slow students down and keep them from staying motivated to do their best in school. Especially when they feel like they are losing freedoms and the raw excitement of learning.
For one, students do not have immediate and unlimited access to their phones in class. We have learned to accept learning without phones, and many have actually seen some benefits. However, the problem lies in the fact that for the short periods of time we are allowed access to our phones, they do not work. There is barely any cell service available to students in the building. Trying to send a quick text or refresh a social media page almost always results in a network error.
The few minutes students are allowed to have their phones are not even useful because it is virtually impossible to get cell service in most parts of the building.
Beyond students having service just for simple things, there are serious safety concerns on the line as well. During emergencies, especially lockdowns, students are unable to contact and communicate with family members and those outside the building. Considering we have had many unscheduled lockdowns in the past few years, the lack of wifi cuts student and parent contact off, generating fear and anxiety for everyone involved. These instances have created unnecessary stress as students are unable to get in touch with family and reassure their parents promptly due to cell service problems.
Students value having access to their phones because, for many, it’s also the only place they can guarantee a full sense of privacy during school. Teachers are allowed to use GoGuardian without notifying students. Of course, there are understandable uses for the site when students are taking a test or completing an important assignment, because when students are doing individual work, it is their decision how they choose to spend their time. Students should be responsible for taking notes or doing their own work, and if they are off task, they will have to suffer the consequences. Teachers and administrators must understand that time on Chromebooks, productive or not, is spent at students’ personal discretion, and it’s not fair to track their every move. Staff members should not have the right to monitor student activity on their computers without students knowing, as it is a clear invasion of privacy.
In addition to GoGuardian, Google Classroom has added functionality so that teachers can see when a student has simply opened an assignment posted on Classroom. This feature feels very unnecessary and invasive, and it disregards student privacy. This is yet another example of the staff having a leg up on students. Surely the school can see who is writing this editorial now, although it is supposed to be anonymous!
Ultimately, West Essex continuously pushes an agenda that advertises putting students first, and while they do in many aspects, their rights are limited. As the lack of wifi poses safety threats for students and families, the administration must prioritize giving students a cell connection. Continually, students should not have to feel tracked and heavily watched by their teachers. If the administration continues its distrust of students by exerting control over their every action, it is only hurting their understanding of how to grow into responsible adults.
