Japan fights children's cell phone addiction

This article caught my interest for a couple reasons...

First of all, because I'm actually thinking about buying a new cell phone. Considering how little I use the one I've got, though...

And second, because at work I see elementary schoolers who, when their parents are late picking them up, whip out a cell phone and give them a call.

According to the article, "About a third of Japanese sixth graders have cell phones, while 60 percent of ninth graders have them, according to the education ministry." It's becoming its own little subculture. For example, if kids don't respond to a cell phone e-mail within thirty minutes, they are made fun of at school the next day.

Now it's been the better part of a decade (!) since I've taught in American schools, so I have to ask: Do a large percentage of elementary schoolers in the States have cell phones?

Things to do when you're bored

This is for Derrick. Or for his father-in-law...



Another Flash version can be found at YouTube here.