Educators Want Cellphones Taken out of Classrooms.

 

DUH!  I don't want to be the phone police. I want to teach. That is a common theme I have heard from people I know that are teachers and educators.

A team led by Wharton professor and psychologist Angela Duckworth is only a few months into yearlong research on cell phones in public schools, but the preliminary findings are clear: The stricter the policy, the better.

More than 20,000 public school educators nationwide have responded to the Phones in Focus survey since it was launched in April to understand the broad effects of cell phone use on student achievement and well-being. The key finding so far is that school-wide bans that keep phones out of the classroom are linked with fewer distractions. 

https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/do-school-cell-phone-bans-help-students-do-better/

It’s amazing to me that a focus survey is even needed. Where is the common sense that cell phones should not be in the classroom or at least put in a cell phone storage area, or shelf in the classroom while the teacher is instructing. This takes away the argument that some parents have in case of an emergency. 

The bigger point here are cell phones being allowed in the classroom is a direct RESULT of the terrible policies of allowing Chromebooks and Tablets in the classrooms many years ago (Still going on today).

WHY? Because the idea is valid the but the process of allowing them to roll out is/was flawed. There needs to be algorithms built in the Chromebooks and tablets that ONLY allow educational sites pre-determined by the school districts for teaching purposes only.

Students go to sites that are not restricted that take their attention away from learning just like the cell phones do today. For privacy reasons you can’t restrict a person’s cell phone, but you can limit what is allowed on Chromebooks and tablets.

Government Shutdown - Over for Now! - Updated 11/12/2025

Another Government Shutdown - Three simple solutions:

Government shutdowns have become a recurring feature of US politics, the product of partisan stand-offs over spending that force federal agencies to halt a wide range of services.

So, what is the solution to avoid these high school antics and sissified back and forth threats. First of all, no one can leave congress for their home state the month before a balanced budget is do for approval. Second, negotiations must be on going (No leaving the capital) until a resolution can be found before the shutdown date. 

Thirdly, and most importantly ONLY congress people should NOT be paid (With a daily $500 fine) during a shutdown. All other workers should continue to be paid. And NO retroactive pay after resolution for a balanced budget. 

WHY ...?

Congress owns the system, everyone else in government is a willing worker and should not be punished for the ineptness of the those who own the system! 

Update October 4th, 2025

This is exactly what I am talking about. All week all you here from congressional spokespeople are how they are for the American worker. 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/no-end-in-sight-for-shutdown-as-congress-leaves-for-weekend

While many government workers are not getting paid (Airport Traffic Controllers) many Senators and Congressional People (Still getting paid) are flying home for the weekend.

This is unacceptable and a slap in the face of those workers who are furloughed and not getting paid.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5534068-congress-pay-during-shutdown/

Here is the problem, most people will forget about this during the mid-term 2026 elections. I WON'T!

Updated 11/12/2025

Government Shutdown - Over for Now! Next Up January

What a waste! We are rapidly becoming the DIVIDED States of America. 

I am so sick of watching and "muting" the Democratic and Republican congressional leaders during the past 40+ days. Especially the leaders from New York and California. 

You so-called political leaders continue to underestimate the common-sense voters from both parties. It comes down to basic blocking and tackling (i.e., most people want the basic needs in life). Trick plays will win once in a while but it's always short lived with long term negative consequences.

Next Up January

So, will the government shutdown in January? All I can say is there is NO Christmas break for Congress until all the appropriation bills https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R42388 are passed by the end of the year. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/13/shutdown-appropriations-january-30-00649414?nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&nname=playbook&nrid=15ab8408-6180-472c-84fc-262ab61b7a87

St. Jude - Be Perseverant, Be Courageous

St. Jude Thaddeus is celebrated on October 28th each year. 

https://belovedcatholic.com/st-jude/

My mother many years ago educated me about St. Jude. Like many I thought she meant St. Judas. After I got out of the Army, I felt lost and desperate for a path forward. I prayed my novenas to St. Jude and my prayers were answered. 

I have prayed to St. Jude over the years asking for intercession for others and thanking him for his help those 50 + years ago. Presently. I seek his help for my children, friends and family members and to those I don't know but feel they could use his help. Please pray to St. Jude if the need arises.

https://shrineofstjude.org/the-shrine/st-jude/

Great Customer Service goes a long way!

 I have owned an older car with over 100,000 miles on it since 2002. I don't drive it long distances and usually stay in my general area for short distance trips and to keep mileage down on my lease vehicle.

I have moved since my last oil change at a local place and had no complaints. One of the people I work out with at our fitness center mentioned a place called "Grease Boys" located a few miles away and said he had a great experience and was very pleased. 

Yesterday, I decided to go to Grease Boys because they opened at 8:00 am and I went after leaving the fitness center. https://www.facebook.com/GreaseBoysOilChangeCenters/

As soon as I pulled in 4 people surrounded my car. A person opened my car door and began getting my information as I got out of the car (He also offered and ice-cold water and candy). The other 3 workers started to check air pressure and engine levels. I should mention the first thing a worker did was take a long squeegee and washed my front and back widows. 

After gathering my information, he asked me to wait in the lounge where coffee, water, candy and an assortment of baked good was there while I waited. I also noticed another worker under the bay in a tunnel who was changing the oil. I later found he stayed under there and could work on 3 bays at the same time moving from bay to bay in the connected tunnel.

Within 15 minutes my car was done that also include vacuuming the interior and spraying the door hinges. After handing me my receipt the manger gave a gift card for $10.00 dollars toward my next visit, and he also gave me a code for a free car wash at the place next door. 

Before pulling away they had me turn on all my lights and blinkers on and off to make sure they worked.

This morning, I offered my thanks with my friend at the fitness center, and I also shared my experience with others. I expressed how great I felt all day yesterday and that I had not experienced that much excellent customer service in a long time. 

Amazingly, this does not take a lot of effort to treat people nice and it's a lost art with many American businesses. Years ago, this was the norm and now it's the exception. I asked if Grease Boys was a chain and the manager said no but they are planning on opening some new locations in Michigan.

Thank You, Grease Boys!

I wrote a post years ago - guess which one this company has, Customer Loyalty or Customer Preference? - https://qualityg.blogspot.com/2008/03/customer-preference-as-opposed-to.html

Michigan’s students are still struggling with reading and math, according to the most recent 2024-25 state test results released by the Michigan Department of Education.

Michigan’s scores for fourth and eighth graders have worsened since before the pandemic. They decreased in reading for both grades and in math for the eighth grade. There was no significant change in fourth grade math compared to before the pandemic. https://www.chalkbeat.org/detroit/2025/01/29/naep-reading-scores-michigan-have-not-improved-since-before-covid/

I have written/blogged about this type of results many times over the years. I have friends who have been subbing non-stop in local schools because the teachers are constantly out of the room testing students in reading and attending conferences on a variety of topics unrelated to the core subjects. 

Also, many of the test results do NOT come back in the same school year. That means the student has been passed to the next grade level with a new teacher.

Michigan State Superintendent Michael Rice wrote in a statement that the results of the assessment mean there is more work to be done in Michigan. DUH!

More money and the same old solutions with changing testing methods don’t work (Unless they are provided in same school year in a timely manner). I stated after the pandemic that students should be going to school for 10 months out of the year until students (Especially those in grades 1-4) are at grade equivalent in reading, writing and math. Additional assistance should be provided in tutors and trained paraprofessionals to support the students and teachers.