Why I am going Saturday

On Saturday August 23 rd, the NAN ( the National Action Network ) has called for a march to put pressure on the Staten Island DA's office to hold those accountable for Eric Garner's death.  I have seen this issue split my community where I live, divide my union and hold court in the national media.  Since Mr. Garners' death , I have seen many people post videos about  the Garner case and also other  police interactions.  What I have read, is that people have completely different comments for the SAME video .  What I do not read, is these different groups talking to each other.  I am upset with the media because I have not seen any debate.  I have only seen one sided points of view.   It is very much like the recent debate on tenure for teachers.  Everyone will have Campbell Brown on, but no one will have Campbell Brown on with a current tenured teacher.  The issue on tenure and the issue about the death of Eric Garner are more  complex than a 140 letter tweet or soundbite on social media.  These issues need dialogue.  If twitter and facebook can get the dialogue going, then good, but we need to have one.  I was debating about going on Saturday, not because my union is supporting it .  I am conflicted on the issue about Eric Garner for many reasons.  I know the difficult job police officers have working in NYC, what does this rally do for their moral ?  But I also hear the words of Eric Garner, " I can't breathe "  If I don't go, what am I saying about the value of his life ?  I know that some say that if he did not resist arrest he would not be dead .  But I also think, maybe he would not be dead if he was given a summons.  I don't want to point fingers, I am sick of pointing fingers. I work for a system that is constantly pointing fingers.  I am going on Saturday because the video I saw tells me we need to change, as a people. I am going to support change, dialogue ,growth and not to be pointing fingers.  As a teacher I have a responsibility to create arenas for dialogue, I am going on Saturday to have some. 
I am not asking you to agree with me, but I am asking you to talk with me. 

Cell Phones in class

Put your phone away !
Put that away.
Stop texting !
Are you on your phone?
Ok , give me your phone,, now !
I say these words several times a class, in every class, every day.  
When I see a student looking down at their lap, I have one thought.... they are on their phone.  
Do you think cell phones should be allowed in classrooms ??
In the DOE of NYC , the policy is no cell phones.
Some schools do not allow students to even bring them into school and can be confiscated if found. ( these are schools that usually have metal detectors )
Some schools have a " don't see , don't bother" policy.  If phone is in bag then nothing is done, but if phone is out phone is taken but any staff member. 
Some schools have no phone policy and it is up to the teacher to enforce the rule in their classroom. 
I have worked in last.  No phone policy but I am the enforcer.
Once a year, we have a random metal detectors.  Kids phones are confiscated, kids are screaming, parents are calling and complaining, some are begging teachers to hide their phones in their car till the end of the day, some kids just turn and go home,, its a mess.  
But most days I am the enforcer.
Cell phones can be a problem even if you do not have metal detectors.
I can have the nicest, sweetest, smartest kid in my classroom, but ask them to turn over their phone,, ohh hell no ! 
That kid becomes Dr. Jekyll.  or is it Hyde... the mad/evil one.
At times , when I ask a student for their phone, they have said,"no" to me.  So  now my lesson is stopped and I have to deal with  asking for the phone, and if they continue to refuse , calling a dean, or  call home later .
But please don't call their parents because, they are mad you took it too, or they return the phone to their child and the same behavior repeats itself.
So who needs this hassle?, sometimes you pretend you dont see it and dont enforce, you rather not have the hassle and stop your lesson.
You tell your woes to others, some have great enforcement solutions, some have no solutions, some solutions seem impossible to keep up with . You begin to question your classroom management skills. You also run into the real reason you want them to put the phone away,, they are not engaged in lesson. 
How can I get this to stop?????
I think if a teacher wants phones out of the class, there must be a school-wide policy that EVERY classroom uses and enforces, teachers, administration, deans, security and staff.
My real feeling is I want phones in class, but for class use. I want kids to look up information as we are discussing, I want to be able to use the phone to add, or use an app that helps us with our lesson, or social media to help engage my students.   Some kids like to take a photo of the smartboard .  I am fine with this. 
But I am conflicted with use in class.  I need to enforce the policy of the DOE and I know kids do not use their phone for the right reasons in class.
But how can we get NYC and also other systems on the right track on cell phone use ? How can we  better utilize this technology that we do not even have to buy, but something our students carry or want to carry with them on a regular basis ?
I would love your feedback on this issue.
I welcome all sides, teacher, student, parent, administration and anyone else that has a thought
Just raise your hand and say
Yo Ms!