Sarah Gonzalez / StateImpact Florida
Katerina Sanchez, 14, uses her phone when her classmates move from their desks to work on the classroom computers.
Many schools prohibit students from using cell phones during school hours.
But students can’t always resist the urge.
Middle school student Teresa Fernandez says she leaves class and goes to the bathroom when she wants to text.
“I think everyone does that because every time I go in there people are playing [games] and texting,” Fernandez says.
Instead of fighting students, adults should give in, says Larry Rosen, a psychology professor at California State University, Doninguez Hills.
Rosen is author of “iDisorder: Understanding Our Obsession with Technology and Overcoming Its Hold on Us.”
He suggests a radical idea: teachers should let students use their phones for one minute – every 15 minutes.
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Sherman Dorn / ShermanDorn.com
University of South Florida education professor Sherman Dorn.
University of South Florida education professor Sherman Dorn literally wrote (well, edited) the book on Florida’s education reform policies.
So we grabbed him for a few minutes to ask what Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson’s resignation might mean long-term.
Dorn says Robinson was put in a particularly difficult position and that Florida’s education chief is a more political post than in other states. And despite complaints — and errors — with the state’s school grading system, Dorn doesn’t think Robinson’s resignation will cause state leaders to rethink Florida’s accountability system.
You can listen to our interview:
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Joe Raedle / Getty Images News
StudentsFirst founder Michelle Rhee has advised Gov. Rick Scott. StudentsFirst recently sent out an email offering gift cards to Florida supporters who comment on online education stories.
Betrayed.
That’s how regional StudentsFirst organizer Catherine Robinson felt when an email she sent to a small group of supporters wound up published on education blogs.
The email announced a contest awarding gift cards for the best comments left on online education stories. (Two StateImpact Florida stories were among included links).
Robinson says the $5 gift cards were a small tribute of thanks to hard-working volunteers. The gift cards were not a pay-off designed to impersonate a groundswell of public support for StudentsFirst ideas, she says.
“I thought it was sad. It broke my heart,” Robinson said of seeing her email posted to a handful of education blogs. “I thought it might be nice to recognize that (volunteer effort)…It’s not much of a reward.”
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The State Board of Education could choose a new education commissioner in the next 45 to 60 days.
The Florida Board of Education has selected K-12 chancellor Pam Stewart to serve as interim education commissioner beginning Aug. 31, when Gerard Robinson’s resignation takes effect.
Board chairwoman Kathleen Shanahan told the board that Stewart has agreed to serve in the position and is “ready to go.” Board member Gary Chartrand asked if Stewart is seeking the permanent post, and Shanahan said “she is not interested” — at least for now.
Read more at: www.tampabay.com
