I told them the first day to turn off all their electronic devices, but it is hard to regulate. I have threatened to answer their cell phones if they ever go off. That always happens a time or two every semester. Then there all the students that bring their computers to class and sit in the back of the room. You just know that they are surfing the internet, emailing, etc. but they say they are using them to take notes. I do not feel like I can ban them because they might use them to take notes.

I agree with you regarding the public service idea.