Can the Text Message Cause Problems in the Classroom?

As most younger students are becoming increasingly more comfortable with using the text message to communicate with their friends and relatives, rather than picking up the phone or writing e-mails, I have started to wonder whether or not this will present problems in the classroom, especially for those teaching Language Arts. I recently asked a friend, who teaches high school English, for her thoughts on this topic, and her response was that she often receives e-mails and essays in "text lingo." She is finding that many of her students have little regard for proper grammar in their writing.

I wonder if there can be a similar negative impact on students' oral communication skills. If they are becoming more comfortable texting rather than communicating verbally by placing an actual phone call, can this have a negative impact on their interpersonal communication or oral presentation skills? Can the reliance on text message communication also later negatively impact their relationships with friends, relatives, co-workers, etc.?

After doing a little research to find out what other educators are saying regarding this topic, I found an article on The Columbus Dispatch Web site entitled, "Text Messages May Be Classroom Conduit." In the article, many educators seem to be in favor of the text message and note its positive impact on their students. However, there are some that cite a negative impact, as they are finding that their students are allowing the text talk to permeate through their classroom assignments.

It seems that the increased use of text message communication has both a positive and negative impact on students. However, I think that it might be a good idea for teachers, most especially those teaching Language Arts, to try to reinforce the message that the language used in text messages is not appropriate for more formal writing, such as in professional e-mails or essays for school. Also, teachers should discuss the appropriate use of the text message, stressing that there are times when an actual verbal conversation or more lengthy writing via an e-mail is necessary. I'd be curious to know what others might think about this topic.