Pricey gadgets shape high school culture in San Benito
County
They walk around with wires dangling from their ears, electronic
devices against their hips. They talk incessantly, even when no one
is nearby. They can type messages without looking at a keyboard and
speak an entirely different language, filled with LOLs and TTYLs.
No it’s not a sci-fi movie, but a typical day at San Benito High
School, where techno-savvy students often sport cell phones, iPods
and other electronic devices, such as Blackberries, PSPs and
Nintendo DSs.
Pricey gadgets shape high school culture in San Benito County
They walk around with wires dangling from their ears, electronic devices against their hips. They talk incessantly, even when no one is nearby. They can type messages without looking at a keyboard and speak an entirely different language, filled with LOLs and TTYLs. No it’s not a sci-fi movie, but a typical day at San Benito High School, where techno-savvy students often sport cell phones, iPods and other electronic devices, such as Blackberries, PSPs and Nintendo DSs.
As San Benito High School students become more techno-savvy, the number of portable devices they carry to school continues to grow. The average high school student now has a cell phone, an iPod, or in many cases, both.
They carry around more than $200 worth of electronic equipment in their purses, pockets or backpacks.
With the growing number of portable devices come more problems than just not paying attention in class. Theft is a growing concern.
Everyone has seen the white headphones and earbuds how attractive they are to thieves.
“We see tons of iPods at school,” Linda Row, the assistant principal in charge of discipline said. “It seems like almost every kid has an iPod or a cell phone or both. They’re very popular to steal and we hear about occurrences happening frequently, which is why we advise students to leave such items at home.”
Row could not cite a specific number of thefts that have occurred. The Hollister Police Department did not respond by press time.
San Benito High School administrators do not specifically ban cell phones and MP3 players, such as iPods, at the high school, as long as students are not using the devices during class – which is prohibited – but strongly suggest for safety reasons that students abstain from bringing such devices to school.
But students pay little attention to the warnings and most say they are not worried about theft.
“I have an iPod mini. I had to buy it myself with money from Christmas and my birthday,” said Clarissa James, a sophomore. “I guess I feel pretty safe so I don’t think about anyone wanting to steal it, but I think I’m careful with my stuff.”
Cell phone usage policies in the classrooms are tight. So tight in fact, that even checking the time on one’s cell phone is prohibited. Each classroom at the high school has the cell phone usage rules posted within it, but there is no set policy regarding electronic devices.
Should a teacher catch a student using an electronic device in class that teacher has the option of confiscating the device and turning it over to the administration until it can be released to a parent.
Teachers often have to issue reminders to students regarding the policy and the issue is regularly discussed at faculty meetings.
“I sometimes listen to my iPod at school, mostly between classes,” said Carlos Vargas, 16. “A friend of mine got his [stolen] so I’m careful because that’s messed up.”
Lisa Jenson doesn’t bring her iPod to school, but she had her cell phone stolen last month.
“It wasn’t even that good,” Jenson said. “It’s a couple years old. I don’t even know why they’d want it.”
Tyler Osmond, 17, had his iPod stolen out of his backpack. He isn’t sure whether it was during school or after, but he’s more cautious now.
“I’m gonna get another one sometime, but I won’t bring it back to school,” Osmond said. “I never heard of anyone getting their stuff stolen, but I know now it’s too easy.”
Ways to reduce thefts:
Tips courtesy of the Berkeley BART police.
– Be alert when wearing headphones. Keep the volume low enough to hear people around you and pay attention to others.
– If you are going to keep your iPod in a purse or a backpack, think about getting a lock for that bag.
– The white earbuds are often indicators of an iPod, think about replacing the earbuds with cheaper headphones that suggest cheaper equipment.
– Don’t walk or exercise alone with your iPod.
– Record your serial number on equipment and engrave identifying information (free with new iPod’s purchased online) on the back of devices.
– Report stolen cell phones and have them disconnected so that thieves cannot use them.
Commonly used text-talk
BRB-Be Right Back
TTYL- Talk To You Later
C U L8R-See you later
LOL-Laughing Out Loud
I C-I See
I K W U M-I Know What You Mean
NBD- No Big Deal
THX-Thanks
BTW- By The Way
courtesy of ABOUT.COM
