[Sajarin]

Blaming the “system” is easy but is it the whole picture?

How much of it is due to culture? Teachers in western countries are not as respected as teachers in other parts of the world. A few teachers abuse their authority and that results in outrage and lawsuits from parents, rightfully so.

I can imagine in many schools in the US, if a cellphone ban were to be implemented, there would be a large outcry from parents on how restrictive or overreaching that policy would be. Even if the net positives (as shown in the article) are proven to outweigh the pragmatic concerns (i.e I might need to be in communication with my child) why take the risk?

Not to be supporter of “the man” but it seems unfair to point the finger at a system that takes steps to preserve itself without also acknowledging the hostile environment in which it operates.

Parents have greater zeal in suing the school than they have in attending open board meetings.

[eimrine]

> Teachers in western countries are not as respected as teachers in other parts of the world.

It can not be true for most of Asian countries with a really rich history of beating bad students.

[threeseed]

I wouldn't group all Western countries together.

The US has always been unique in having a very libertarian, freedom at all costs culture.

For example in Australia we have recently banned children from using social networks and this was supported by about 80% of the population.

[graemep]

Is there no resistance to things like having to adult having to prove their age to social networks? How is that going to be done, BTW?