The news regarding Dean Liptak, a teacher and former professional wrestler, encountering backlash for blocking cell phone signals in his Fivay High School classroom highlights an inappropriate response from the school administration and, to be honest, the government.
Sure, what he did was technically illegal. The Federal Communications Commission says "use of 'cell jammers' or similar devices designed to intentionally block, jam, or interfere with authorized radio communications (signal blockers, GPS jammers, or text stoppers, etc.) is a violation of federal law." Hell, it's illegal to even sell jammers in the U.S., but they're easy enough to buy from overseas (as long as the retailer doesn't get caught). The only legal buyers of such equipment are government employees.
Liptak is receiving a relatively soft penalty, consisting of a five-day suspension without pay, in stark contrast to a Florida man who was fined $48,000 for having a jammer in his vehicle for several months. Furthermore, at least one priest has been known to use a jammer after experiencing calls during sermons and a funeral, and he allegedly received authorization from the police to do so.
Certainly, the driver, the priest, and the teacher may have demonstrated questionable judgment, considering that the jammers obstructed more than just their specific locations. Nonetheless, they acted with the best of intentions, and perhaps Liptak had the most compelling justification: to draw the attention of the young people we refer to as our future.
In former times, distractions within the classroom were limited to simple actions such as observing the scenery outside, exchanging folded notes, or secretly reading a comic book. In contrast, contemporary students can partake in an extensive range of activities on one device. How can an effective educator possibly compete with the distractions presented by YouTube, Snapchat, Trivia Crack, or even adult websites? Merely instituting a filter on the local school Wi-Fi network is insignificant for a student with unlimited data from their family's mobile plan.
Rather than condemning Liptak, society should prioritize finding ways to support teachers who are in need of assistance. The Federal Communications Commission and Congress should aim to amend the Communications Act of 1934, which forms the basis for various restrictions on cell jammers. In addition, businesses should be allowed to explore new methods for creating easily controllable jamming devices.
Before taking any steps, think about whether you were truly affected, or if that hour without cell signal was perhaps the most rewarding hour of your day. Furthermore, if your signal is blocked, you probably cannot initiate the call anyway.