In Aspen, and I think for most of the United States, it is pretty normal for high schoolers to bring phones, ipods, and other electronics to school. I have realized here how much I have taken advantage of in the U.S. in that aspect. Today in class a boy was scolded for reading a "story book". Just a novel that he brought to school to read in his free time, not even during class. He wasn't disrupting anyone or -God forbid- disobeying any rules, but the teacher told him that he would be kicked out of the class if he brought a book to school again. This is happening while all the other students, including myself, were gossiping and making noise, which I would think would be worse than sitting quietly reading. In the U.S. teachers would be happy to find a kid reading during lunch rather than texting or on Facebook.
I have to bring a cell phone to school just in case my van that brings me home is late or for emergencies, and it is a true blessing sometimes. I would have slept over at the school at least six or seven days if I didn't bring the phone, because if the van comes, it is a minimum of 45 minutes late. But if any student sees the phone, I am toast. My first week here I didn't know any better so I called my host mom at the end of school to pick me up, and my whole class just dropped everything and stared. Then, they began freaking out, "You aren't allowed to bring cell phones, rah rah rah." They were seriously surprised and scared to see that someone disobeyed the rules, and at least three of them ran to tell a teacher. They are all so disciplined, which is the opposite of the high school I've known. Here it's an honor to get the "Disciplined" badge, and I can't help thinking that would be something tragically embarrassing in Aspen.
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