Yes, I know those who do this. I did it once, and the student called me a bitch. LOL. Oh man, did I want to grade that exam hard! Oh well, I didn't need to. He failed it anyway.

Huh, kids these days.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them; speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

What grade?

I'd have removed that child from my classroom, but since I taught 16+ year-old students, they didn't have to be there.

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When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

LOL...sophomores at university...surprised? I was, that's one of the many reasons I don't do it anymore. I truly believe that emotional maturity of youngs adults starts later with the millenials than with prior generations.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them; speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

Actually (unfortunately?) I'm not surprised at all. We've got undergrads running round our school; they're a pain in the ass. I mean, yeah, the 20-something girlies are interesting to look at for a few minutes, but then they start to talk, and it just kills it.

It takes a special kind of person to teach. A much different kind of person than I am.

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When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

While I agree that a vast majority of the time, cell phone usage is entirely frivolous, their use in your area might be particularly beneficial. It sounds like you live in a rather remote area. Built-in cell phone GPS tracking has been used around here to locate people lost in a national forest. I would imagine it’s probably much easier for hunters and fishermen to get lost in your area, especially non-residents and children. Not only is your area much more rural, but there are fewer people to take part in any kind of search operation.

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Election 2008 – Addicted to Placebos

VHF radio actually works just as good if not better around here. With a VHF and a GPS. One will usually be fine assuming thier equipment works properly. I know a few people who have sattelite phones. The area is so vast that cellular is just to expensive with so few people to justify its cost.

I learned my lesson the hard way. I was doing a drop off/pickup hunt in 2001
My buddy nor I had a proper radio. We were scheduled to be picked up on the 12th of September. Our plane didnt show until the 15th. We were effectively stranded with no idea where our pickup was. We figured something was up when we didnt see an airplane in the sky at all(I live under a major air route from Alaska to east Asia. Literally dozens of cargo planes daily cruising over in convoy at 30k ft.

So now needless to say, My pack now contains a VHF radio. One can contact emergency services. Contact passing boats and airplanes. All of the bushplanes in the area have a VHF they monitor for such things. That being said, when it does come time for SAR. Large parts of the community mobilize. It is often times people we know, friends or family. I have had several cases of happy endings to a search. Also more than enough where it turned into a recovery.

Thankfully we had food and shelter and more or less everything we needed. It was a worrisome by day three of not being picked up. When my buddy landed on the pond I was overjoyed and quite pissed off. He had a newspaper showing what happened on 9-11. I was probably among the last in the world to find out. News didnt get to me until 4 days later.