In-class Writing

I am in class, Intermediate English, and we are doing in-class writing. I am wondering why I waited so long to get this started with this group. Anyway, here we are, here I am writing while two students surreptitiously look at their phones. Why do they think I can't see? 

One student, the one who always wants out of class, and lobbied hard this very day to be allowed to leave to go find her paper, is the only one besides me who is writing. She is a bright kid, but she is handicapped by some bad habits. Not coming to class is one of those habits.

Am I making a difference with these students. I think that I am not mean enough. It is not in my nature to push people. If you need pushing, hurl yourself off a cliff.