Because of the misuse of iMessages on district iPads, district administration will remove usage of iMessage and FaceTime from student iPads.
“iMessage has been a constant distraction in the classroom,” Principal Des Stewart said. “The sole purpose of the iPads is for educational use.”
Senior Owen Cook, President of Computer Science Students Association, believes the decision to remove iMessage will detriment his extracurricular activities.
“Blocking iMessage will be a huge hinderance to me as the leader of multiple school organizations because it will make communication between the group members more difficult,” Cook said. “It’s senseless that they provided a medium for us to group chat and then take it away after we had a system set up.”
In addition, Cook believes removing iMessage will not remove the problem.
“I see where they’re coming from. They want it so that people won’t be messaging in class, but I’ve seen people use their iPads to cover up their cell phones while they’re texting,” Cook said. “I see no positives to them taking away iMessage.”
Science teacher John Sudbury agrees with the district’s choice to block iMessage and FaceTime from the iPads.
“Students were provided iPads to serve as an instructional learning tool,” Mr. Sudbury said. “Many students do not have the maturity and/or self-discipline to handle the responsibility that comes with having an iPad,”
Mr. Sudbury has also heard students complain about iMessage.
“A portion of students are sending messages out of their own choice,” Mr. Sudbury said, “but some students are caught in group messages that they are not participating in. They receive every reply to the group message.”
While some students misuse iMessage, others use it to message teachers and study.
“I use it with some of my students,” history teacher Rena Long said. “Often times, they message me with questions.”
At first, students abused the iPads in Mrs. Long’s classroom, but once she made rules it stopped being a problem.
“One thing that I feel would be useful, especially with the younger students, would be to help students by giving them skills that would help them understand how to limit themselves on the iPad,” Mrs. Long said. “We just put the iPad in their hands with no real guidance.”
Senior Zach McCartney, who uses iMessage and FaceTime for study sessions, understands the reasons behind the district’s choice but does not agree with it.
“I think that when iMessage is used for a good purpose, it can be very useful,” McCartney said. “For example, group messages are an easy way to study with multiple people. But it can also be distracting in class.”
Even though some students and teachers use iMessage as an instructional tool, the district has decided iMessage and Facetime features hurt the students more than it helps.
“It is just a matter of time when it is going to be implemented,” Mr. Stewart said. “You don’t want to erase anything that might harm other programs on the iPad.”
Aarius Drayton • Nov 13, 2012 at 2:18 pm
This is just another example of Mansfield Isd trying to make school even more torture than it is already
Andrew Roberts • Oct 29, 2012 at 1:56 pm
iMessage has been misused, but it has also been used for good. I use it all the time to check on homework when I’m absent. I also use it to ask any questions I have on an assignment. I even use it to text my parents about what materials I need for the next day of school… It’s very useful…
Jay Maldonado • Oct 29, 2012 at 1:38 pm
iMessage + FaceTime = Awesome
Ty Johnson • Oct 29, 2012 at 9:41 am
I think iMessage and FaceTime should only be removed at school so that it won’t be a distraction. But when students go home, they should be allowed to get on social networks and use iMessage and FaceTime BUT use them correctly.
Lidestany • Oct 29, 2012 at 9:38 am
I think they should have never have have it to us in the first place knowing we were going to do this if the teacher can control the class then it should not be a big deal , and it shouldn’t be taken away.
Alanna Zaskoda • Oct 29, 2012 at 9:36 am
I use my iMessage and FaceTime a lot for studying and help with homework. Sometimes, if I forget what’s due the next day or if I need someone to clarify the directions, IMessage is a perfect way to communicate, because everyone has it. I get my Remind101 through my IMessage too, so it keeps me up to date with all of my classes.
Another thing is, my friend FaceTimed my IPad the other day, asking for algebra tutoring. We talked for about an hour and I could use the iPad to show her step by step how to graph a line and figure out point slope. She took a test the next day and ended up with a 92. Without FaceTime tutoring, she could’ve failed the test.
I understand where the teachers are coming from, but removing IMessage and FaceTime is going to hurt a lot of students grades because its an easier, more helpful way to do things. Removing it, in my case, is going to put me way behind on my schoolwork.
Sara • Oct 29, 2012 at 9:34 am
I think a lot of people misuse the iMessage but I know a lot of people, including myself, that use it for educational purposes like to ask friends and teachers about homework or to send pictures of an assignment a friend might have lost or they were absent…
Carly H • Oct 29, 2012 at 9:32 am
I know that iMessage may be a distraction in class but I often use it to give and receive help on homework. In Communications Class I always message the outline for my speech to Ms. Lopez so she can give me feedback. It’s easier to attach images in case you missed some notes in class or to show how a foldable should look like. There should be a way so that you can only message certain people like teachers during the school time. Talking to friends is fun but I understand why the teachers think it’s annoying. About half of the kids in each of my class are messaging all the time and not paying attention. Teenagers are smart though so if you take away iMessage they WILL find a way around it.
Kimani Graham • Oct 29, 2012 at 9:31 am
I think it’s stupid that they’re trying to disable iMessage and FaceTime. All a teacher has to do is set rules to how they should be used in their class and if students don’t comply then disceplinary action should take place.
Carrington • Oct 29, 2012 at 8:38 am
If you take away I message and FaceTime you are basically throwing away the iPad students will not use the iPad most likely it will be left at home. And plus it is good use because it helps make school fun and talk to our friends(when given permission). If u take away face time and iMessage people will just start using their phones or skipping class and I don’t think the school district wants that so I think they should leave everything alone
Garrett baas • Oct 29, 2012 at 8:37 am
Honestly I do understand how the iPads iMessage is a distraction. But usually now in are classes it is a requirement to put them up. And only if your done than you may use your iPad. I use my iMessage daily for study session with friends to try to better understand the problems and work.
Ashley Richardson • Oct 29, 2012 at 8:34 am
I don’t think they should remove the iMessage because the teachers use it to communicate to their students. Also iMessage isn’t the problem because I have also seen people texting on their phones while the iPad is covering it up.