Teens endure 3 weeks without electronic devices

CHINLE, April 10, 2008

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nSat's satellite Internet shutdown Monday didn't seem to be having much effect in this central reservation community, where students were busy cramming for their AIMS tests and many residents and businesses have access to DSL connections.

But if, God forbid, the whole Navajo Nation goes dark some day, at least one group of teens here will be prepared.

Janice Brooks, a history teacher at Chinle High School, challenged her junior-level AP American History class to an electronic fast for the past three weeks: no cell phones, MP3 players, TV, or video games during school hours or at home while they're doing their homework.

Eighteen students agreed to participate in exchange for extra credit - "I had to bribe them somehow," Brooks said.

Most found it a difficult but useful experiment. A few broke down and cheated once or twice.

"It was torture!" moaned Ailene Joe, 17, of Lukachukai, Ariz. "We can't live without our cell phones."

Joe and her BFF (if you don't know what that means, ask the nearest teenager) Charlinda Haudley of Chinle are normally in near-constant phone and text message communication as soon as they get home from school, the girls confessed.

What's to talk about with someone you see every day?

"Drama," stated Haudley, who inspires awe in her classmates with her lightning-fast text messaging. Haudley said she texts up to nine people per day.

While the girls had trouble keeping their fingers off the keypads, other students said they missed their MP3 players the most.

"My music actually helps me study," said Nataanii Means, 17, of Chinle. "It gets me in the rhythm."

Joe said music helps her feel less isolated out in the boonies of Lukachukai. "It gets so quiet where I live, it makes you kind of paranoid," she said.

Several youths said they missed DLs - that's "downloads" to you fogies. The kids enjoy sending and receiving songs, photos and short video clips over the Internet, and use them as study breaks from writing that term paper.

But most of the fasters admitted their studying went better without the electronic distractions.

"I got more work done," said Leandra Sage, 17, of Many Farms, Ariz.

"I understood what I was reading more," Haudley added.

Taneesha Watson, 17, of Chinle, said she used the extra quiet time to take a daily run, a habit she hopes to continue.

Most of the teens said the fast had no effect on their chores around the house - they do them whether or not they're plugged in.

"At my house, getting out of chores is not an option," declared Tara Stewart, 17, of Salina Springs, Ariz. and many of her classmates agreed it was the same at their place - perhaps lending credence to the notion that strict parents create the kind of offspring who end up in AP classes.

A couple of kids, including Edwina Jones, 17, of Chinle, said they kind of enjoyed the electronics ban and may continue it voluntarily.

"I read a lot more," Jones said.

Only one student, 17-year-old Raynelda Hobb of Wheatfields, Ariz., said the ban had little effect on her because she doesn't own a cell phone.

Does she feel left out, with all this talking and texting going on?

"Nope," she said. "I don't need it."

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