Post 6: Social Psych... It's Real Life

My School Has a Few Rules...

After more than a year of virtual school, the next with free access to phones in class, and a sudden ban on phones this year has rocked the world of many students at Dulles. This overnight change failed to consider the dependence we have created for phones, and it is kind of confusing, considering we can use laptops and teachers don't have to follow the rule. Most kids rebel from obedience, by using phones, even when teachers say it is not allowed. In all honesty, I also go on my phone in every class except two because the tasks in most classes don't require much effort, and most teachers don't enforce it.  Phones have access to communication, social media, and vast knowledge, so kids obviously want to use them. Kids are disobedient because their phones bring them satisfaction when the outside world is dull and unfulfilling. I think not being able to use their devices makes kids want to use them more.

This year DHS became the latest victim of phone bans, and only teachers were informed about it last year! The first day of school this year felt like the door-in-the-face phenomenon because out of nowhere, phones weren't allowed. Students weren't warned, and those in power could still use it however they like, but students get write-ups for doing the same thing. Kids weren't simply discouraged from use, but threatened with a referral or their thousand-dollar item to be taken away, and that they may potentially have to pay hundreds to get their rightful item back. Obviously, the lack of compliance with this phone ban is monstrous. In every class, at least half of the students are on their phones, some hidden and some not because we simply do not care. Some APs and teachers like to nitpick, and some students are being targeted for no good reason. It also feels unfair to many because staff doesn't have to follow the same rules, and 24/7 phone access provides comfort to many for safety or health reasons.

My English class gets me fired up because I know everyone at my table will back me up. My group asks me questions and describes their opinions. As I tell my story, their nodding heads affirm my ideas, and it helps me think of more to share. After my bigger issues, such as my floral design grade being lower than my AP classes, I get fired up and keep on telling more details of things I remembered. This flow I get in is caused by social facilitation. I love hearing different opinions, but I love being correct and praised more than that. I feel more comfortable expressing my beliefs as those at my table respond and encourage me to continue my stories. One time, I was talking about selling cookies, and my teacher encouraged me to make a Google form, which inspired me to advertise even more!

Unfortunately, one of my teachers grades by what and who she likes the best aesthetically, and even the most accurate project won't get a 100. Her class feels like a hostage situation where she is the captor who ignores people's emotions (this is a bit dramatic, but I have cried in there a handful of times). I think she can come off as a bit grumpy and blunt at times, and after talking with friends who had her last year, my anger only grew. They described how she has neglected to consider the feelings of others and pick on some kids, and it made me even angrier that other kids have also had to go through this. This is called group polarization because I started a conversation about something I didn't like and others also said it was bad. While they had positive experiences with her on occasion, they all joined my "hate train" after I expressed how upset it made me.

 

On the other hand, I respect most of my teachers because they worked for a degree, and are (usually) eager to help me! In all of my classes, I try to be respectful and turn in assignments on time so they can trust me. Last week, my physics teacher had me return materials to a different classroom. I agreed and after, I asked him to print my essay papers. We have reciprocity norms, so we mutually agreed to do simple tasks to help the other out when in need. I pay attention and put effort into my classwork, so he respects me and wants to help with small things, such as printing out an essay for me if I need it.

Every school is different, but hopefully this provided some insight into how compliance, obedience, social facilitation, group facilitation, and reciprocity norms may occur in schools!

AP