There is an enormous difference between the highschoolers of today from when I was in high school that constantly strikes me. The use of personal electronics.
Teenagers today have grown up with personal electronics. They haven't known a world without them. When I was in high school my father had a cell phone, and once I was able to buy myself a car he gave me the cell phone when I would be out driving. Eventually the phone became mine. I don't keep my cell phone in my pocket all of the time, or constantly text. I don't pay for the internet on it because I am too cheap to buy a smart phone and can't convince myself (yet) to pay that much money for a data plan. I am not (usually) the person walking while texting or while eating dinner; I am not the person who can't put their phone down. However, to most teenagers, their cell phone is their life.
Most of my teenage employees would never think of leaving their phone in their purse or locker while they are working. Their excuse is that they need it in case of emergency - as if the theatre doesn't have a phone! If they can't check their facebook accounts or respond to text messages, they start to panic. It is a completely different world.
At PRHS they have acknowledged this new style of living. The students are allowed to use cell phones and mp3 players before, between, and after classes. As long as they put the devices away during class time. This has enabled the administrators and teachers to be more strict when students are breaking the rules. There are no more warnings or phone calls to parents. Misuse gets an immediate referral (if the teacher cares). Working with the students seems to relieve a lot of the stress related to personal electronics and the students' dependency upon them.
