Letter to the Editor: Penalize students for texting

Dear Editor,
Regarding Brittani Level’s letter (April 22) about students texting in class, I agree that this habit severely hinders their education process and can lead to cheating.

As a senior at High Point University, however, I know how busy students are and how tempting it can be to text in class, especially if it’s about a matter important to the student. I doubt that students will ever discipline themselves enough on their own to stop texting in class.

Luckily, my global studies professor has conquered this issue. In his syllabus, he states that any student who uses a cell phone or an electronic device during class will receive a 75 point deduction from their final grade, which is based on a 950 point scale. While he can’t accuse students of cheating while texting, he can at least penalize them.

Needless to say, the cell phones stay put away in that class.

Sincerely,
Pam Haynes

Note: I wrote this letter in response to "Texting in classrooms can lead to cheating" which can be found at the bottom of this page: http://blog.news-record.com/opinion/letters/