Didn't address the computer issue:
This is a bit of disruption...... but where is the teacher which allows this to occur? If she is on hall duty or must leave the classroom..... then take the kid with her...or pre-plan a worked out agreement with other faculty who will monitor him when she drops him off 'til she 'picks him up' on her return to class. Or move his desk away from other students, into a corner where any movement on his part will catch her eye!
You don't gain discipline by leaving it to others: And because no one person may have all the answers, when nothing is working, consult with others and find out what works for them and what hasn't worked: Whatever the circumstance, never give in after the first time and a warning (if this is appropriate to the occassion), or boundaries will continually be pushed.
Word to Martin: Just because a person has either authored or edited a book, doesn't mean there is no useful information inside: No book should be read without some critical thinking...... because even the most trusted authors or publishing companies can still let slip disinformation or information which is neither doctrinally or scientifically sound.
I've often wondered the same thing when a student gets busted for taking the vitamins his mother packed in his school lunch.... or a young lady takes a Midol for cramps, or a kid has a 2 inch knife packed in his lunch for the steak and apple cut which his loving mom packed. ......While it could have serious intent behind it.... we are on dangerous ground when there really is no crime..... but the crime is that of possibilities or thought crime. How can one lead a society to be the best they can be, when they are being conditioned through the disciplines and rules of the school to be suspicious and distrusting of each other and treated as though they have criminal intent. It is frustrating when one hears of the kid who has done well, and has been no problem with behavior, get busted over the lapse in a parents judgement when packing their lunch..... when this too often seems to be the case. The kids who are behavioral problems are usually the ones who successful sneak in contraband and then causes harm or disrruption, but the kid who did not know mom packed his vitamins..... or that the prepacked lunch meant for the ball-game or park was the one he picked up for school..... should have an 'innocent 'til proven guilty' instead of automatic suspensions or refusal of promotions, or a permanant record made of his faux pas.
For this reason, I also believe schools should be smaller and within the communities which they serve: In the country, here, years ago, if a school was too small to offer all the daily instructions or courses available at larger schools, we had 'visiting' teachers, music teachers, speach therapist, etc. who would come on certain days to offer more specialized instruction which was more commonly available in larger schools. The same could be done today to keep the schools within the community.... if the school would be too small to support the fullness of ciricullum with full time instructors, so that students stilll have exposure to skills and knowledge.
I need to go away now while I still can.