I have copied the Electronics Policy as it was stated to the NNHS Faculty on September 3, 2009. I have added my own classroom policies (in green) as requested by my administration. It is my hope that by posting this from the beginning of the school year, any confusion to the classroom policies will be avoided. I do go over this policy with each of my classes at the beginning of the year. 

RESPONSIBILITY FOR APPROPRIATE USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Individual electronic equipment (CD players, iPods, MP3 players, television sets, radios, beepers, cell phones, cameras, etc.) may not be used in school buildings, with exception of specific designated areas depending on individual school policy. Use of such equipment in designated areas on school property may not violate a student, faculty, or staff member's privacy.

In classrooms, these devices must be concealed and turned off, unless used with specific teacher permission. Violators risk having the equipment confiscated and taken to a housemaster, principal or designee. Failure to turn over any electronic equipment to a faculty member or administrator, as requested, may result in suspension. Confiscated equipment will not be returned until after school and then only at the discretion of the housemaster, principal, or designee.

This is a non-negotiable for me as a teacher. I do not allow electronic devices to be used in the classroom. I meet with my classes only four times a week (sometimes less). There is a lot of curriculum to be covered in a short amount of time. I want my students to be more than observers. I want them to be active participants. In order to be engaged in the lesson, I need students to be present in mind and body. Furthermore, electronics can be damaged very easily in a science laboratory from spilled chemicals or simple movement around the room. If a student has earbuds in and is listening to music or is searching a website or texting a friend, then they are not fully listening to the questions and responses of their peers and essentially miss important content.

My discipline strategy for electronic devices is to ask students once to put the device away. This means that I am asking students to turn off the device and place the device in a location that is out of sight and out of reach for the duration of the period. If I see the device out after I have given a general warning, I will ask that the student quietly hand over the device to me for the remainder of the period. The student is responsible for remembering to pick up the device from me at the end of class. If a student does not submit quietly to the request of handing over the device, then I may confiscate the device to give to the house office. If the student argues and disrupts the class further in this process, then I will simply ask the student to leave the classroom and go to the house office for the remainder of the period. I will follow up with the incident at a later time.