Ed Fare: On students and electronic devices

I decided that it was about time I waded into the figurative social media minefield that surrounds us. Once again, we should devote a lot more research into this than time or space permits here. I’ll focus on children — students in particular.

In my 40 years in education, I witnessed many changes in teaching and students. First, it is impossible to stop changes, and advancements in technology. Despite any laws or mandates, students will adapt, modify, adjust and hack into any roadblocks that lawmakers enact. History shows us that technology advances faster than any legislation to control it.

Then there’s the age-old statement that it’s the duty and responsibility of parents to police their children’s exposure to social media platforms. We all know the truth here: Children adapt faster to different platforms than most parents can keep up with.

I think we can all agree that the internet, and these smart devices we all carry around, are amazing tools, provide a wealth of information and can even be lifesaving. This is, of course, when we use them properly, and control them. It’s when they control us that the waters get muddy.

Here are some of the details that seem to escape so many parents, educators and lawmakers. First, the human brain fully develops at 25 years of age. Leaving choices up to minors is mistake No. 1. Parents have to be the adults, not children. In New York state, 16 is the age to start driving and to get a fishing license, 12 — yes, 12 — to get a hunting license, 18 to join the military, 21 to drink and gamble. Seeing these in print should be a bit jarring. The brain develops at 25, but 12-year-olds can get hunting licenses?

Of course, parents and guardians have input, and there are stopgaps and training where licenses and permits are concerned. But I saw firsthand how students in the classroom felt so empowered that very little learning took place. I had to devote more and more time to classroom management than to actual learning and education. We can point to many reasons for this, some real, some gas-lighting. But the fact is, it was extremely difficult to stop cellphone use; photography, videos, web surfing, etc., were prevalent during class time. Thirty students, all hiding their phones, devoting zero time to educational lessons while passing notes and communicating with one another electronically, present quite the educational challenge.

When I started teaching, a student passing a written note in class was a big deal. Now students communicate with every other student in the class, the school and the entire world. Why bother learning and paying attention when they have the world at their fingertips? It became a full-time job to try to stop cellphone use, instead of teaching a lesson or developing any critical thinking skills.

Imagine this: a student texted their mother during class that I was asking them to put their cellphone away! Their mother promptly sent me an email stating that she allowed her child to use their phone whenever they want, and I had no business asking them to stop, even though it was clearly defined in the student code of conduct booklet. Now, multiply this by 30 students in a classroom. Friends would ask me, why not write that student up for administrative review and discipline? I would be doing that all day long.

A cellphone ban has now gone into effect in New York state. Beginning this month, all public schools must implement policies prohibiting cellphone use during the entire school day. Personally, I hope this policy is successful. There will be plenty of pushback from students, and parents. Remember, most of today’s parents grew up using their cellphones in school. Students will still be using computers, laptops and tablets in class. I believe they will quickly find ways to communicate with those devices. It will be a full-time job for IT departments to try to keep up with these hacks and block them.

Clearly, we can’t just throw in the towel and give up. We must try to provide good examples for the next generations. Perhaps good old- fashioned education will help. We must go back to emphasizing, and placing more value on, critical thinking skills, and considering all factors of any given situation, as facts will always be at our fingertips. If we learn how to use our devices carefully, safely, accurately and professionally, they can be fantastic tools.

Ed Fare is the mayor of Valley Stream.