I had my whole math class today to work on tonight’s homework since my teacher was absent. But given that I didn’t have my text book, I couldn’t get any work done regardless. Very few students go through the effort of bringing the book back and forth every day, so hardly anyone took advantage of the time given today Our teacher could have emailed us the night before. But how many students would actually see it? If only my math teacher could have texted us to bring our books.

Actually, she could have. Ms. April Tatro, family and consumer science teacher, uses Remind 101, an app and website that sends a text message to a student’s cell phone, for Chef and Restaurant and the 24 Hour Relay Planning Club.

It sounded creepy to me at first, but the privacy of the program has it covered.

“The students can’t reply and they don’t have the teacher or coach’s phone number,” Tatro said. The teacher doesn’t have the student’s number either.

Mariam Ardehali, junior, gets reminders for 24 Hour Relay. She said, “It makes it easier because students check their phones more than their emails.”

It seems like a smart idea, but why don’t other teachers use it?

One argument is that it inhibits students from learning responsibility. “It is useful, but if students are reliant upon getting a text reminder then I believe it inhibits the learning of responsibility,” Mr. James Ludois said. Ludois only uses it every couple of weeks for Earth Science.

Tatro agrees, “Depending on how it is used.” Her texts might be “24 hour meeting for tomorrow is canceled. Next meeting on Feb. 19” or “Don’t forget: Restaurant group B is during 6^th period!  Be in 112 by 4^th period!” It’s just like an email, but students are more likely to read it. And is it really harmful to a student’s development to make sure they don’t forget, like Tatro does? With calendars in our phones and the ability to set reminders days or minutes in advance, we don’t need to remember as many responsibilities anymore, as long as we do them of course.

“[Teachers] have to catch up on today’s technology,” said Garima Jajoo, junior.

Coincidentally, Tatro is a younger teacher, as is Ludois. Thinking outside of the conventional classroom is apparent. “What if we could use Remind 101 to deliver passes?” Tatrp said.

There is a fault with Remind 101: text messaging rates apply. Tatro recognizes this and doesn’t make it mandatory, but thinks students appreciate the reminders.

Teachers, take note: “It’s so useful. I wish every teacher used it,” Ardehali said.