Texting in Class Deemed Rude and Disrespectful

Commentary Editor

Graphic by Douglas Boultinghouse

   Ownership of cellular phones among students causes distractions making some professors irate. Professors now implement strict policies about texting in class in their syllabi.

   With technology advancing everyday, students can socialize through text messaging, e-mail, Facebook and Myspace accounts.

   The conflict of interest occurs with students who don’t see problems with texting in class and professors who find the act rude, disrespectful and distracting.

   Professor of Agriculture Paul Francis, said he finds it interesting that today’s generation cannot function without texting.

   “What’s so important that you can’t leave the darn thing alone to listen to a lecture?  Who are they texting?  Their brokers?  Or, like my younger ‘friends’ on Facebook, do they feel compelled to constantly tell everyone what they are doing?  Do I really care what you had for lunch or what you watched on TV last night?  Get a life!  Or maybe they are scheming among themselves to get back at that old man who gives the hard tests,” Francis said.

   Francis implemented a “No Texting” policy  in all of his classes this semester.

   Some students feel the same way about texting in class. Caleb Burger, a junior psychology major, said he felt texting in class was rude and disrespectful.

   “It shows that person is not paying any attention to the teacher and obviously has something more important on their minds,” Burger said.

   Professors like Charles Dolberry, the associate professor of Mathematics, said he discourages cell phone use in class on his syllabus. He said if a student is caught using a cell phone during a quiz or exam, he will ask the student to leave and they will receive a zero for that exam or quiz.

   Dorothy Everts, associate professor of Sociology, said she felt she was strict about the situation because if a student texts in her class, she will throw their cell phone into the hall. Included in her syllabus is a no electronic device usage while in class policy.

   “I realize that some faculty put up with this sort of behavior but my perspective is that the student has done the hard part in getting their bodies to the classroom.  I do not waste their time in class. I teach the full class time in every class and so much material is not in their text; they need to pay attention and take very good notes,” Everts said.

   With the emergence of technology at a fast pace, some professors have not had time to figure out what rules should be implemented. Some rules are implemented through experience.

   Carole Efird, associate professor of Mathematics, said texting is a form of disrespect and should not be tolerated. She does not have a strict policy regarding texting in her syllabus but she does include a statement saying, “all cell phones should be turned off during class.” She said she doesn’t have any consequences regarding texting but she said she may change that in the future.

   Jessica Heird, a senior physical education major, had different thoughts about texting.

   “It shouldn’t matter as long as they are not doing it during a test. In all but one of my classes, it says that we will be kicked out of class and counted absent if we are texting because that is a new rule for the education building but its none of there business whether we are texting in class or not because we pay them to teach us and they need to teach if we don’t get it than it is our fault for not paying attention. If we have test and you get caught that is a different story, but as for just being in regular class I think it is ok and they need to leave it alone,” Heird said.

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