Is it really necessary for kids to have cell phones at school and why?

Question

Is it realistic to think that having a phone makes them safer or are we parents just being parinoid?

Whether or not you or I had something as a kid has no bearing on whether or not my kid should have it today. That is terrible logic and a waste of key stokes. If having it makes him safer, I'll probably opt for it. As a general rule I find that people who don't have kids give the worst advice regarding kids. We didn't have personal computers 30 years, why don't you give your's up.

Answer 1

i think its a great idea that kids should have a cell phone in school for the fact that something could happen and you are aware of it, you can get in contact with your kids anytime,some parents think that giving cell phones to kids might raise their bills to be very expensive but theres a plan that my little cousin has and its from cingular and you put the numbers in their phones that you wouuld want them to call or receive and their only allowed to ge that and 911 and the firestation its great!

Answer 2

Cell phones are not necessary!!! Convenient OK maybe. But not necessary.
Think hard and try to remember way back. Did you have a cell phone? Probably not. Were they even invented back then? We survived. Our kids will survive. No matter what your kids tell you, the schools will let them use the office phone if they miss the bus. Wait, you are still letting your kids ride the bus? Isn't that dangerous too? We survived being a kid without a cell phone and riding the bus. I'm sure our kids will survive too.
If my kid ever wants a cell phone, he has to pay the bill that goes with it.
We are raising a bunch of wimps! They will never grow up and be responsible adults if we keep up all this nonsense.

Answer 3

having cell phones makes life a little easier, because if my child misses the bus, the office will not allow the kids to use the office phone and the pay phone is locked at the end of the day so they cannot use that. So the only way for him to contact me is to have his own cell phone or borrow some other kids. When most of us were growing up you always had the moms that knew everybody and they would give you a ride home when you missed the bus but those days are gone everyone is afraid of lawsuits and of everybody else.
I do not know if it truly makes them safer but the peace of mind that my child can call me if he needs me, and that I will not have him waiting at the school outside alone for an hour without an adult keeping an eye on him. (because it is roughly an hour after school lets out before his bus gets to our neighborhood).

Answer 4

I didn't... just like many others... ever had the chance to bring a cell phone to school... we made it out okay... I think that cell phones are one of the many things that are taking today's kids away from listening and learning in school... While they should be gaining some knowledge... they are in the back text messaging or running to the bathroom just to talk to a friend on the phone... cell phones should be banned from schools.. and in case of an emergency... when we didn't have cell phones, we would just go to a pay phone or the office and make a call... so why is it "SAFER" now????

Answer 5

I feel better knowing my child had a phone. I do not like the medical risks hype, or any thing else.

I just know that he can call for help.

When I was a child a neighborhood teen died at the hands of a reckless gang of kids because he did not have change for the pay phone. Back then you needed the dime just to get a dial tone. They passed a law after that and now you have an automatic tone when you pick up a phone if you need help...you call 911 etc..

Answer 6

Children don't need phones at school. If something important comes up, either use the pay phone, or the school will be more than happy to notify a parent. If you want it for safety when your kid is driving, great. Keep it in a glove compartment, under a seat, out of sight, but it doesn't need to come in the school. You are there for learning, not socializing or cheating via text messages. children have gone to school safely for hundreds of years without a mobile phone, they can continue to do it now.

Answer 7

I think that, when the child is in the primary years and parental involvement in their life and daily activities is still fairly high, mobile phones aren't really needed.

The kids can use the phone at school if they need to contact you and usually plans with their friends, etc. are pre-arranged with parental approval in the younger years.

When the child reaches high school and an age where they are more prone to go out after school with shorter notice, wag classes, etc, I think it becomes a safety issue that helps to keep the parents aware of where the kids are at what times without worrying.

Answer 8

AT school, no. The school is supposed to be in loco parentis. BEFORE and AFTER school, yes, it is a good thing these days but kids should be taught to use the things wisely and sparingly! We have had no end of trouble through mis-read texts causing flaming rows between friends! From a parent's point of view, they can be a godsend - not as a spying mechanism but just so one can know where they are and can know if they are in trouble.

That being said, I survived without one and so did many millions like me!

Answer 9

I don't think it is necessary unless they have a long walk alone to and from school. I really think most parents are getting them for their children now because they don't want their kids to feel like they are left out. What happened to teaching our kids that they don't have to be like everyone else and to value what they have instead of coveting what others have (and getting it!)?

Answer 10

Somehow all of us over 25 mananged to survive high school without a cell phone!! No, they do not need phones at school, may be for a ride from their after-school activities, but not at school, they are way too distracting!