Gaming During Class

Almost every day, Cole Andres, a junior at Lakeland High School, opens his Chromebook and plays various games on it during his school classes. Sometimes, he will even watch Youtube while in class.

However, Andres is not alone in his actions of playing video games in the classroom. According to a poll conducted by the Lakeland Hawkeye, 67 percent of students at Lakeland play games on their chromebooks in class, according to a Lakeland Hawkeye poll 

Often, many students play due to a lack of stuff to work on in class. Ryan Genteman, a LHS student and a part of the 67 percent, confirms this.

“I usually play games when I find the work I am supposed to be doing un-engaging,” Genteman said. 

Andres said, “I only play games when I have nothing better to do, or I find the work boring.”

Beth Whitfield, an English teacher at LHS, is often frustrated when finding students playing games in her classroom. 

“I know students often need a brain break, but it can be frustrating to constantly get after students for playing games in class. I even find it inappropriate, especially for the upper classmen,” Whitfield said.

Whitfield doesn’t see it as a major issue. She said it doesn’t interfere when she is teaching, only when she gives students class time is when she sees students play games.

Every students’ worst nightmare is opening up their favorite website for games to find it blocked. Lakeland Network Administration often uses software called Sophos for their web filter. Sophos will commonly block gaming and social media sites. 

Robert Hetzler, Lakeland’s Site Tech Specialist, doesn’t have control over blocking websites and games. The network administrator is in charge of this duty. If teachers want to have websites blocked, Hetzler recommends teachers go to the administrator.

If students feel that a website has been unfairly blocked, they can fill out a help desk ticket a give it to a teacher. 

Genteman also believes that no matter what administration does, people will always find a way to find games.

“I think no matter what enforcement they enact, there will always be a way students find to play games. I think the level of strictness is fine with what they are doing now,” Genteman said.