Sun Chronicle Staff

FOXBORO -- English teacher Alan M. Keller keeps a small TV set in the corner near his desk in Room 218 at the Ahern Middle School.

`` Fear me'' reads a sign Keller posted in block letters across the screen.

A warning that students should not overindulge in TV watching? Sure. But it's not that simple.

With many young people using cell phones, the Internet, iPods, digital cam eras and other electronic gadgets, Keller knows that teachers can't just elbow out technology to boost interest in books. Instead, a more balanced approach is needed -- one that takes account of the media-saturated world the kids inhabit.

A 7th and 8th grade teacher, Keller brought the TV to class last year after his students read a Ray Bradbury story titled `` The Veldt.''

In the futuristic tale, a young brother and sister take revenge on their parents for threatening to pull the plug on their home's far-advanced form of television: a room in which an occupant's very thoughts are projected onto the walls in realistic landscapes, sounds, odors and figures.

In their room, the siblings have creat ed the veldt of Southern Africa, a grass land where lions roam -- and feed with a ferocity born of the children's own freeranging anger at parental restrictions.

Just as the parents are thwarted -- to put it mildly -- in their attempt to undo the technological power they've given the children, Keller realizes that a blanket denial of technology is not an option for teachers.

`` I kind of embrace media, but I also recognize and am concerned about the need to be constantly surrounded or saturated,'' he said. `` You can't take a walk in the park. You have to have a sound track.''

He is concerned that society is `` letting technology run our lives and forgetting about the human touch of things.''

These are not idle reflections, but the product of the studies, diverse work experiences, and cultural interests of an educator who is about to take a larger role in the Ahern School community.

Keller, 33, holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from West Virginia University and a Masters of Arts in teaching secondary English from the University of Pittsburgh.

Promoted to a half-time assistant principal this year, he is enrolled in graduate studies at the University of Massachusetts at Boston toward certification as a middle school principal/assistant principal. Keller studied advertising in college, worked in advertising in radio and later sold pharmaceuticals to major accounts. Part of his job was to teach doctors and other medical staff about the medicines he was representing.

His work experience fine-tuned his awareness of advertising and salesmanship, and put him in a better position to help students to be less-passive consumers of media messages.

`` I need to help them understand advertising, and the way advertisers are trying to get messages across,'' Keller said. `` On the one hand, I'm railing against technology. On the other hand, I'm trying to take advantage of it.''

Since coming to the Ahern School in 2001 as a new teacher, he has lead a digital video club which broadcasts biweekly morning newscasts; organized a creative writing contest; and put together a school-wide word power challenge that led seven students to compete in a state championship.

Keller enjoys shaping curriculum to engage the minds of young people. In line with state frameworks and district goals, he has rewritten the entire 8th grade English curriculum and revised the 7th grade curriculum.

Aiming for a career in curriculum work, he is taking his first step into administration.