Texting etiquette during school day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not my job to keep a teen’s phone from texting - it’s the teen’s. It’s also the teen’s job not to get distracted by it and all the other excuses on this thread. Text when you want but don’t expect an immediate reply.

- HS teacher and mom to teens

+1 as another HS teacher and mom of a teen who babysits

I would be fine with 10 PM on a school night and whenever on weekends in the situation you described where no driving is required.

Now, I did have a parent who used to always ask me to babysit during the school hours when I was a teenager, and always seemed shocked when I wasn't available on a random Wednesday at 11 am. Not too sure what she was thinking...

[Anonymous]

Another HS teacher and mom of teens -

Text whenever you want. This is not an issue. Checking a quick text about babysitting isn’t going to be a distraction. Either her phone is out and she’s seeing it because she’s on the phone anyway or it’s away and she will see it later.

For my own kids, I would be okay babysitting until 9 on weeknights only because I assume most people run late and I don’t want to be up waiting past 10. Weekends can be later, midnight or 1 is fine.

[Anonymous]

^I read your update. 10 pm is fine since you live so close.

[Anonymous]

It’s not my job to keep a teen’s phone from texting - it’s the teen’s. It’s also the teen’s job not to get distracted by it and all the other excuses on this thread. Text when you want but don’t expect an immediate reply.

This. It's an asychronous communication medium. You send the message when it is convenient for you and the other party can respond when it is convenient for him or her. It would be unreasonable to expect that your message would be read and/or answered during the school day, of course.

I hate text messaging, but I would have no problem sending email to a school-age person who did contract work for me during the school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many of these posters text their own kids during the school day.[/quote

He's not in high school anymore, but I only texted at lunch. He had a couple of teachers who would read the text out loud, one of them would also answer a ringing phone and ask why the caller was interrupting class time Ds texted me once when he had car trouble. His PE teacher gave him the Ok.

There is absolutely no reason for OP to text someone else's kid because OP can't manage her time.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if these BSC responses are from people who feel like they are owed responses to their texts immediately. It's fine to text anyone at any time during waking hours. FFS.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don’t understand these responses. I have a sophomore who occasionally babysits. She stays up until 11 most nights at home. If the children go to bed earlier DD still has time to study. I also don’t care if someone texts her during the day about a babysitting job. Her phone is off anyway and she will respond when she is able to. DD’s only issue is that her time is limited due to studies and sports.

[Anonymous]

I have two kids in HS and texting during the day is perfectly fine- though you probably won’t get a reply until after school. I text my own kids during the day on occasion (about after school plans etc). They must keep phones silenced and put away during class (either in their locker or put away in their bag) but are allowed to check phones during passing periods and at lunch. They are responsible for following the rules and has never been an issue. Text whenever you like.

10pm would generally be the limit for my 14yo DD on a school night.

[Anonymous]

I text my HS teens whenever I want and they don't get in trouble. Don't worry about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a neighbor/babysitter who is a sophomore in high school. I need to ask if she can babysit in a week, but I keep forgetting after school is out because I am busy with my own kid! Is it a no no to text during the school day? I assume her phone is off or she can ignore it, but what's the etiquette?

Don't inconvenience this kid because you cant't get it together to send a 15 second text message.