<p>I’m going to suffer the slings and arrows here, but: </p>
<p>1) When I teach I do keep my cell phone on. I have either one or both teenagers home alone. They would not know how to reach me otherwise, and H can be even harder to get. And yes, once S did call me in class (for something stupid, but what are ya gonna do - he forgot I was in class). </p>
<p>2) I’ve probably become jaded but I don’t really care if students text or whatever in class. If people are talking (and that would include cell phone conversations) I have my standard chat about how only one of us can talk - me or them. And if it’s them, they still have to learn the material whether I can lecture or not. That generally tames the chatter. As for texting or laptops, the students are there to learn or they are not. They are not children, and it is their choice. If they don’t wish to learn, that is their problem. If they are disturbing their neighbors, peer pressure usually seems to take care of that.</p>
<p>I do sometimes think that their parents or whoever is paying their tuition (the taxpayers?) would be very interested to know how their money is being spent.</p>