Fight Bill 363 in PA!

Pennsylvania State House, Bill 363 was introduced into the Education Committee last week. The bill reads:

Section 1317.1.  Possession of [Telephone Pagers] Electronic Devices Prohibited.–
(a)  The possession by students of telephone paging devices, commonly referred to as beepers, cellular telephones and portable electronic devices that record or play audio or video material shall be prohibited on school grounds, at school sponsored activities and on buses or other vehicles provided by the school district.

(b)  The prohibition against beepers and cellular telephones contained in subsection (a) shall not apply in the following cases, provided that the school authorities approve of the presence of the beeper or cellular telephone in each case:
(1)  A student who is a member of a volunteer fire company, ambulance or rescue squad.
(2)  A student who has a need for a beeper or cellular telephone due to the medical condition of an immediate family member.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

How can anyone even remotely think this is appropriate? Be sure to sign the petition and spread the word that this is legislation that sets back educational reform.

Recent Links 02/15/2009

  • [read for free online]

    The Hyperlinked Society focuses on “links” as one of the most basic—and unexamined—features of online life. Bringing together a prominent array of thinkers from industry and academe, this collection addresses a provocative series of questions about the ways in which hyperlinks organize behavior online. How do media producers’ considerations of links change the way they approach their work, and how do these considerations in turn affect the ways that audiences receive news and entertainment? What role do economic and political considerations play in information producers’ creation of links? How do links shape the size and scope of the public sphere in the digital age? Do hyperlinks function as “bridging” mechanisms that encourage people to see beyond their personal beliefs to a broader and more diverse world? Or do they simply reinforce existing bonds, encouraging people to ignore social and political concerns that seem irrelevant to their personal interests?

    This path-breaking collection of essays will be valuable to anyone interested in the now taken for granted connections that structure communication, commerce, and civic discourse in the world of digital media.

    tags: books, social networking, 21st century learning, hypertext

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.