My days as a student was kinda plain, to be honest, I’m a typical silent type of student who only speaks when being spoken to and does what he can to survive every school year. I’m pretty much invisible during that time. So I’m going to share my experience as a teacher. 

So the classes started in June, I’m a bit excited about my first teaching experience because, for a long time, I’ve been working as a customer service representative for 6 years and tried to apply for a coaching position multiple times, so I decided to change career. I took some professional teaching units, then after that, I started looking for a school. luckily I got hired by a school in Navotas city. 

On the first day, it was fun because we’ve done some introduction with the faculty members, school staff, and lastly my students. I made it clear with the students that I handle that I’m not like the usual teacher that they encountered before, that even if I’m new at teaching I will still implement the school regulations strictly. 

to be honest, that’s not the real me talking to them during that time, its the professional side of me. which is funny for me because I never imagined my self before being that strict. During the time that I’m explaining my classroom rules, I noticed one student that seems to be not pleased by the school rule that I mentioned. He makes faces when I say phones are not allowed during class. So I confronted him. 

He started to give suggestions and scenarios that should be an exemption to the rule mentioned. Which makes sense. Back when I was a student. I too sometimes use my phone during emergencies or such or even for leisure if finished my activities earlier than the rest of the class. So I made a deal with the class. I told them that I will allow them to use their phone in my class. 

after I said that, it was like a riot, everybody was celebrating, which is kinda strange for me on why they acted like that. But I started explaining the terms and conditions of our little pack. Everybody was quiet and super focused on what I’m saying. One of them why is there a condition from me allowing them to use their phone. I started explaining.

Personally, I’m a big fan of equivalent exchange. If I’m going to agree on something that will benefit you. You must have some sort an arrangement first. It might sound bad at first doing it at my grade 9 students but hear me out. After they graduated from college, they will face the reality that everything that they had before that’s being served to them on a silver platter does not become as it is. Like it came falling out of the sky. The material thing that they have is the responsibility of their parents to give, all of it is a privilege. A privilege that they need to appreciate by any means because that’s the natural order of real-life situations.

So I started to lay out my terms and conditions for using their phones during my class:
You can only use your phones during my time and my time only. If ever someone is caught using their phones before or after my subject. I will never allow phone usage throughout the school year.
You can only use your phone during my time for leisure purposes after we finished all of our discussions and activities for the day. Consider it, as your free time.  However, if I caught you using your phone while we are discussing or doing an activity. I will confiscate your and will only give it back to you after class as a first offense. The second instance that you will do it again. I’ll confiscate your phone and I have to talk to your parent or guardian. For the third instance, you’ll have to claim your phone to the guidance office.
No one is allowed to do a MyDay on their Facebook accounts during school hours. You must keep all of your social media accounts posts in private on all of the teachers that you have in social media. if I caught your post online during my time. I will confiscate your and will only give it back to you after class as a first offense. The second instance that you will do it again. I’ll confiscate your phone and I have to talk to your parent or guardian. For the third instance, you’ll have to claim your phone to the guidance office. 
During your free time, No one is allowed to watch pornography. If caught, you shall be reported at the guidance office. Always keep in mind that you are at school not your own bedroom to do immoral things like this. I shall not tolerate this kind of activity. Not just because I’m a feminist but this very inappropriate for your age. 
and Lastly, the Fault of one is the fault of all. Which means you are responsible for the actions of each other. So if someone reported violating the rules mentioned above. Everyone shall be penalized accordingly. Now I know that this is like corporal punishment but I want everyone not just to understand but also realized that having this kind of leisure is like have great power and with great power comes with great responsibility. Just like spiderman. hehehe

Surprisingly enough, everybody accepted my terms, and throughout the school year. They only got up to 1st offense. Well, I already predicted it, They are kids, what do you expect?. 

Later that day, I realized that it was a good start. Though I’m not the kind of person to be strict, I guess its better for them to know who they are dealing with. But still, something bothered me that day. Why did they celebrate the fact that I allowed them to use their phone?. The next day I asked one of my students about it, then she told me about an incident when she was a grade 8 student. A group of delinquents students, by her words, used their phones to cheat on their 1st periodic exams, exchanging pictures of lectures and answers through their phones that’s why the school banned the use of mobile phones for students, they are not even allowed to bring one at school. Which is understandable. 




But the issue here is, those students are no longer enrolled at the school but still, the admin is still implementing the No CP policy during class. Then I asked her again “was there another instance that it happened again?”, She said, “None sir, that’s why everybody was happy when you announced it because we’ll be able to take pictures inside the school to serve as a good memory that we have with this place.” From that point, I realized that I did the right thing because it’s important for a person to realize that for once in their life, they enjoyed being a teenager, to have a picture to remind them who they are and what made them in the future.