FUMBLE: PRINCIPAL SENDS THE WRONG SIGNAL, LOUD AND CLEAR

Veritas Team Huddle Compiled By Lisa Richards

Students are more wired than ever, with accessories like computers, mp3 players and cell phones all within arm's length. In the classroom though, these can be more of a distraction than a learning aid. Vancouver Island principal Steve Gray of Port Hardy Secondary found that despite a 2007 ban that restricted students from bringing these devices into the classroom, they were still texting and talking during learning time. To curb this activity, Principal Gray purchased a mail order jamming device (which he claims he did not know was illegal) in an attempt to prevent the phones from communicating within the school. Following a student-led protest against the school’s use of the illegal jammer, Gray disconnected the device stating, “I’m going to hold onto it and hope the regulations follow reality.” Now, the Veritas team concurs that decisive action definitely had to be taken, but from a communications standpoint, Gray earns himself a few Fumbles. When students first questioned why their phones weren’t working, some teachers blamed it on the humidity; faculty lying to students instantly creates an internal atmosphere of distrust. Further, noting that he would ‘hold onto it’ implies that Gray will use it again if necessary. As one student so cleanly put it, “Breaking the law is not a good way to send a message.” Gray could have used the media attention as an opportunity to underscore his core messages and present statistics illustrating how text time in class detracts from learning – an important fact that would resonate with parents and the public alike. Instead, Gray’s quotes come off as defensive and detract from the issue he intended to address in the first place. Controlling the communication and sending a consistent message through words and actions could have earned Gray a Touchdown. Instead, we call this a Fumble.