APS Current cell phones reality

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is clearly a market for school allowed “pager phones” that can send quick messages and make phone calls. That would allay a lot of the concerns of the apron string parents, and reduce the distraction in the classroom since these would be boring bricks.

Apple Watch is almost that, but too expensive and too many features.

Apple used to be big on education; making a classroom compliant family communicator (so it could be blue message bubbles) would be a compromise.

This is just crazy. What on earth does a parent need to tell their child during the school day? Anything important can be routed through the office. Anything unimportant can sit in text messages until school is over. Anxiety meds sound like a better solution than pager phones.

(Any kid with a medical need will get an exemption and carry their phone, no this doesn't apply to legit needs.)

+1 does everyone forget that we somehow managed to make it through the school day without phones?

I just finished reading The Anxious Generation and it's really an eye-opener about how the phone-based childhood/adolescence is having tremendously negative impacts on mental health and early adolescents are particularly vulnerable.

I’m 100% for bell to bell bans, they don’t belong in school at all.

I’m not even sure of the “medically necessary” need for a phone, can someone explain how that works? Are they using the phone as a glucose monitor or something?

But assuming we won’t win and get an actual ban, dumbing down allowed phones would help a lot.

Yes, some phones control insulin pumps. Some kids are highly allergic or asthmatic and may need a phone in case they have to use an EpiPen or rescue inhaler. I think there are also phone apps for issues like epilepsy or to change the mode for hearing aids.

I totally get the need for a phone if you have diabetes or a hearing aid etc, but why do kids need a phone if they need at EpiPen or a rescue inhaler?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is clearly a market for school allowed “pager phones” that can send quick messages and make phone calls. That would allay a lot of the concerns of the apron string parents, and reduce the distraction in the classroom since these would be boring bricks.

Apple Watch is almost that, but too expensive and too many features.

Apple used to be big on education; making a classroom compliant family communicator (so it could be blue message bubbles) would be a compromise.

This is just crazy. What on earth does a parent need to tell their child during the school day? Anything important can be routed through the office. Anything unimportant can sit in text messages until school is over. Anxiety meds sound like a better solution than pager phones.

(Any kid with a medical need will get an exemption and carry their phone, no this doesn't apply to legit needs.)

+1 does everyone forget that we somehow managed to make it through the school day without phones?

I just finished reading The Anxious Generation and it's really an eye-opener about how the phone-based childhood/adolescence is having tremendously negative impacts on mental health and early adolescents are particularly vulnerable.

I’m 100% for bell to bell bans, they don’t belong in school at all.

I’m not even sure of the “medically necessary” need for a phone, can someone explain how that works? Are they using the phone as a glucose monitor or something?

But assuming we won’t win and get an actual ban, dumbing down allowed phones would help a lot.

Yes, some phones control insulin pumps. Some kids are highly allergic or asthmatic and may need a phone in case they have to use an EpiPen or rescue inhaler. I think there are also phone apps for issues like epilepsy or to change the mode for hearing aids.

I totally get the need for a phone if you have diabetes or a hearing aid etc, but why do kids need a phone if they need at EpiPen or a rescue inhaler?

Time can be pretty critical for a severe reaction or attack. People do die from both allergic reactions and asthma. If severe, I could see allowing a kid to carry a phone with their EpiPen or inhaler (e.g., while outside at gym class) to make sure they have access to rapid emergency services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is clearly a market for school allowed “pager phones” that can send quick messages and make phone calls. That would allay a lot of the concerns of the apron string parents, and reduce the distraction in the classroom since these would be boring bricks.

Apple Watch is almost that, but too expensive and too many features.

Apple used to be big on education; making a classroom compliant family communicator (so it could be blue message bubbles) would be a compromise.

This is just crazy. What on earth does a parent need to tell their child during the school day? Anything important can be routed through the office. Anything unimportant can sit in text messages until school is over. Anxiety meds sound like a better solution than pager phones.

(Any kid with a medical need will get an exemption and carry their phone, no this doesn't apply to legit needs.)

+1 does everyone forget that we somehow managed to make it through the school day without phones?

I just finished reading The Anxious Generation and it's really an eye-opener about how the phone-based childhood/adolescence is having tremendously negative impacts on mental health and early adolescents are particularly vulnerable.

I’m 100% for bell to bell bans, they don’t belong in school at all.

I’m not even sure of the “medically necessary” need for a phone, can someone explain how that works? Are they using the phone as a glucose monitor or something?

But assuming we won’t win and get an actual ban, dumbing down allowed phones would help a lot.

Yes, some phones control insulin pumps. Some kids are highly allergic or asthmatic and may need a phone in case they have to use an EpiPen or rescue inhaler. I think there are also phone apps for issues like epilepsy or to change the mode for hearing aids.

I totally get the need for a phone if you have diabetes or a hearing aid etc, but why do kids need a phone if they need at EpiPen or a rescue inhaler?

Time can be pretty critical for a severe reaction or attack. People do die from both allergic reactions and asthma. If severe, I could see allowing a kid to carry a phone with their EpiPen or inhaler (e.g., while outside at gym class) to make sure they have access to rapid emergency services.

I 100% agree that allergic reactions and asthma attacks can be serious/deadly and that ambulances need to be called sometimes, but it is still not clear to me that a kid having their own phone would help in such a situation. Wouldn't they be better off having the teacher call 911 while they are using the inhaler or the epipen than the kid calling themselves? it seems to me that this is an argument for teachers having a phone, which I assume will continue to be the case (either land line, cell or walkie talkie).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is clearly a market for school allowed “pager phones” that can send quick messages and make phone calls. That would allay a lot of the concerns of the apron string parents, and reduce the distraction in the classroom since these would be boring bricks.

Apple Watch is almost that, but too expensive and too many features.

Apple used to be big on education; making a classroom compliant family communicator (so it could be blue message bubbles) would be a compromise.

This is just crazy. What on earth does a parent need to tell their child during the school day? Anything important can be routed through the office. Anything unimportant can sit in text messages until school is over. Anxiety meds sound like a better solution than pager phones.

(Any kid with a medical need will get an exemption and carry their phone, no this doesn't apply to legit needs.)

+1 does everyone forget that we somehow managed to make it through the school day without phones?

I just finished reading The Anxious Generation and it's really an eye-opener about how the phone-based childhood/adolescence is having tremendously negative impacts on mental health and early adolescents are particularly vulnerable.

I’m 100% for bell to bell bans, they don’t belong in school at all.

I’m not even sure of the “medically necessary” need for a phone, can someone explain how that works? Are they using the phone as a glucose monitor or something?

But assuming we won’t win and get an actual ban, dumbing down allowed phones would help a lot.

Yes, some phones control insulin pumps. Some kids are highly allergic or asthmatic and may need a phone in case they have to use an EpiPen or rescue inhaler. I think there are also phone apps for issues like epilepsy or to change the mode for hearing aids.

I totally get the need for a phone if you have diabetes or a hearing aid etc, but why do kids need a phone if they need at EpiPen or a rescue inhaler?

Time can be pretty critical for a severe reaction or attack. People do die from both allergic reactions and asthma. If severe, I could see allowing a kid to carry a phone with their EpiPen or inhaler (e.g., while outside at gym class) to make sure they have access to rapid emergency services.

I 100% agree that allergic reactions and asthma attacks can be serious/deadly and that ambulances need to be called sometimes, but it is still not clear to me that a kid having their own phone would help in such a situation. Wouldn't they be better off having the teacher call 911 while they are using the inhaler or the epipen than the kid calling themselves? it seems to me that this is an argument for teachers having a phone, which I assume will continue to be the case (either land line, cell or walkie talkie).

Meh. Not my call. I could just see someone being able to make a reasonable case that their phone should be zipped into a fanny pack with their meds and kept with the student in case of an emergency. That seems to be a low ask as long as the phone stays away unless there's an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is clearly a market for school allowed “pager phones” that can send quick messages and make phone calls. That would allay a lot of the concerns of the apron string parents, and reduce the distraction in the classroom since these would be boring bricks.

Apple Watch is almost that, but too expensive and too many features.

Apple used to be big on education; making a classroom compliant family communicator (so it could be blue message bubbles) would be a compromise.

This is just crazy. What on earth does a parent need to tell their child during the school day? Anything important can be routed through the office. Anything unimportant can sit in text messages until school is over. Anxiety meds sound like a better solution than pager phones.

(Any kid with a medical need will get an exemption and carry their phone, no this doesn't apply to legit needs.)

+1 does everyone forget that we somehow managed to make it through the school day without phones?

I just finished reading The Anxious Generation and it's really an eye-opener about how the phone-based childhood/adolescence is having tremendously negative impacts on mental health and early adolescents are particularly vulnerable.

I’m 100% for bell to bell bans, they don’t belong in school at all.

I’m not even sure of the “medically necessary” need for a phone, can someone explain how that works? Are they using the phone as a glucose monitor or something?

But assuming we won’t win and get an actual ban, dumbing down allowed phones would help a lot.

Yes, some phones control insulin pumps. Some kids are highly allergic or asthmatic and may need a phone in case they have to use an EpiPen or rescue inhaler. I think there are also phone apps for issues like epilepsy or to change the mode for hearing aids.

I totally get the need for a phone if you have diabetes or a hearing aid etc, but why do kids need a phone if they need at EpiPen or a rescue inhaler?

Time can be pretty critical for a severe reaction or attack. People do die from both allergic reactions and asthma. If severe, I could see allowing a kid to carry a phone with their EpiPen or inhaler (e.g., while outside at gym class) to make sure they have access to rapid emergency services.

I 100% agree that allergic reactions and asthma attacks can be serious/deadly and that ambulances need to be called sometimes, but it is still not clear to me that a kid having their own phone would help in such a situation. Wouldn't they be better off having the teacher call 911 while they are using the inhaler or the epipen than the kid calling themselves? it seems to me that this is an argument for teachers having a phone, which I assume will continue to be the case (either land line, cell or walkie talkie).

Meh. Not my call. I could just see someone being able to make a reasonable case that their phone should be zipped into a fanny pack with their meds and kept with the student in case of an emergency. That seems to be a low ask as long as the phone stays away unless there's an emergency.

I am the PP who you are responding to. If it were my kid, I would not want them to have a phone in their fanny back because I would want them focused on the inhaler/epipen and not calling 911 (which someone else could easily do) but if another parent wanted to make a different call it sounds like that would be allowed under this policy and is not a reason to oppose the broader bell-to-bell ban.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Must everything on this forum involve APE?? Some of you are obsessed. Go back to your echo chamber.

Not everything, but this discussion does involve APE because they involved themselves. The APEs been lobbying really hard on this, speaking before the Board, writing a letter, they even have a template letter on their website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is clearly a market for school allowed “pager phones” that can send quick messages and make phone calls. That would allay a lot of the concerns of the apron string parents, and reduce the distraction in the classroom since these would be boring bricks.

Apple Watch is almost that, but too expensive and too many features.

Apple used to be big on education; making a classroom compliant family communicator (so it could be blue message bubbles) would be a compromise.

This is just crazy. What on earth does a parent need to tell their child during the school day? Anything important can be routed through the office. Anything unimportant can sit in text messages until school is over. Anxiety meds sound like a better solution than pager phones.

(Any kid with a medical need will get an exemption and carry their phone, no this doesn't apply to legit needs.)

+1 does everyone forget that we somehow managed to make it through the school day without phones?

I just finished reading The Anxious Generation and it's really an eye-opener about how the phone-based childhood/adolescence is having tremendously negative impacts on mental health and early adolescents are particularly vulnerable.

I’m 100% for bell to bell bans, they don’t belong in school at all.

I’m not even sure of the “medically necessary” need for a phone, can someone explain how that works? Are they using the phone as a glucose monitor or something?

But assuming we won’t win and get an actual ban, dumbing down allowed phones would help a lot.

Yes, some phones control insulin pumps. Some kids are highly allergic or asthmatic and may need a phone in case they have to use an EpiPen or rescue inhaler. I think there are also phone apps for issues like epilepsy or to change the mode for hearing aids.

I totally get the need for a phone if you have diabetes or a hearing aid etc, but why do kids need a phone if they need at EpiPen or a rescue inhaler?

google phone app to manage asthma

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is clearly a market for school allowed “pager phones” that can send quick messages and make phone calls. That would allay a lot of the concerns of the apron string parents, and reduce the distraction in the classroom since these would be boring bricks.

Apple Watch is almost that, but too expensive and too many features.

Apple used to be big on education; making a classroom compliant family communicator (so it could be blue message bubbles) would be a compromise.

This is just crazy. What on earth does a parent need to tell their child during the school day? Anything important can be routed through the office. Anything unimportant can sit in text messages until school is over. Anxiety meds sound like a better solution than pager phones.

(Any kid with a medical need will get an exemption and carry their phone, no this doesn't apply to legit needs.)

+1 does everyone forget that we somehow managed to make it through the school day without phones?

I just finished reading The Anxious Generation and it's really an eye-opener about how the phone-based childhood/adolescence is having tremendously negative impacts on mental health and early adolescents are particularly vulnerable.

I’m 100% for bell to bell bans, they don’t belong in school at all.

I’m not even sure of the “medically necessary” need for a phone, can someone explain how that works? Are they using the phone as a glucose monitor or something?

But assuming we won’t win and get an actual ban, dumbing down allowed phones would help a lot.

Yes, some phones control insulin pumps. Some kids are highly allergic or asthmatic and may need a phone in case they have to use an EpiPen or rescue inhaler. I think there are also phone apps for issues like epilepsy or to change the mode for hearing aids.

I totally get the need for a phone if you have diabetes or a hearing aid etc, but why do kids need a phone if they need at EpiPen or a rescue inhaler?

google phone app to manage asthma

Presumably students who need these apps would be allowed to keep their phones. THis is not a reason to allow all students to have their phones with them all day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is clearly a market for school allowed “pager phones” that can send quick messages and make phone calls. That would allay a lot of the concerns of the apron string parents, and reduce the distraction in the classroom since these would be boring bricks.

Apple Watch is almost that, but too expensive and too many features.

Apple used to be big on education; making a classroom compliant family communicator (so it could be blue message bubbles) would be a compromise.

This is just crazy. What on earth does a parent need to tell their child during the school day? Anything important can be routed through the office. Anything unimportant can sit in text messages until school is over. Anxiety meds sound like a better solution than pager phones.

(Any kid with a medical need will get an exemption and carry their phone, no this doesn't apply to legit needs.)

+1 does everyone forget that we somehow managed to make it through the school day without phones?

I just finished reading The Anxious Generation and it's really an eye-opener about how the phone-based childhood/adolescence is having tremendously negative impacts on mental health and early adolescents are particularly vulnerable.

I’m 100% for bell to bell bans, they don’t belong in school at all.

I’m not even sure of the “medically necessary” need for a phone, can someone explain how that works? Are they using the phone as a glucose monitor or something?

But assuming we won’t win and get an actual ban, dumbing down allowed phones would help a lot.

Yes, some phones control insulin pumps. Some kids are highly allergic or asthmatic and may need a phone in case they have to use an EpiPen or rescue inhaler. I think there are also phone apps for issues like epilepsy or to change the mode for hearing aids.

I totally get the need for a phone if you have diabetes or a hearing aid etc, but why do kids need a phone if they need at EpiPen or a rescue inhaler?

Time can be pretty critical for a severe reaction or attack. People do die from both allergic reactions and asthma. If severe, I could see allowing a kid to carry a phone with their EpiPen or inhaler (e.g., while outside at gym class) to make sure they have access to rapid emergency services.

I 100% agree that allergic reactions and asthma attacks can be serious/deadly and that ambulances need to be called sometimes, but it is still not clear to me that a kid having their own phone would help in such a situation. Wouldn't they be better off having the teacher call 911 while they are using the inhaler or the epipen than the kid calling themselves? it seems to me that this is an argument for teachers having a phone, which I assume will continue to be the case (either land line, cell or walkie talkie).

Meh. Not my call. I could just see someone being able to make a reasonable case that their phone should be zipped into a fanny pack with their meds and kept with the student in case of an emergency. That seems to be a low ask as long as the phone stays away unless there's an emergency.

I am the PP who you are responding to. If it were my kid, I would not want them to have a phone in their fanny back because I would want them focused on the inhaler/epipen and not calling 911 (which someone else could easily do) but if another parent wanted to make a different call it sounds like that would be allowed under this policy and is not a reason to oppose the broader bell-to-bell ban.

I have a child with an epipen and a different child with a rescue inhaler. I do not support either child having access to their phones in school. Under either scenario they will not be on their phones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is clearly a market for school allowed “pager phones” that can send quick messages and make phone calls. That would allay a lot of the concerns of the apron string parents, and reduce the distraction in the classroom since these would be boring bricks.

Apple Watch is almost that, but too expensive and too many features.

Apple used to be big on education; making a classroom compliant family communicator (so it could be blue message bubbles) would be a compromise.

This is just crazy. What on earth does a parent need to tell their child during the school day? Anything important can be routed through the office. Anything unimportant can sit in text messages until school is over. Anxiety meds sound like a better solution than pager phones.

(Any kid with a medical need will get an exemption and carry their phone, no this doesn't apply to legit needs.)

+1 does everyone forget that we somehow managed to make it through the school day without phones?

I just finished reading The Anxious Generation and it's really an eye-opener about how the phone-based childhood/adolescence is having tremendously negative impacts on mental health and early adolescents are particularly vulnerable.

I’m 100% for bell to bell bans, they don’t belong in school at all.

I’m not even sure of the “medically necessary” need for a phone, can someone explain how that works? Are they using the phone as a glucose monitor or something?

But assuming we won’t win and get an actual ban, dumbing down allowed phones would help a lot.

Yes, some phones control insulin pumps. Some kids are highly allergic or asthmatic and may need a phone in case they have to use an EpiPen or rescue inhaler. I think there are also phone apps for issues like epilepsy or to change the mode for hearing aids.

I totally get the need for a phone if you have diabetes or a hearing aid etc, but why do kids need a phone if they need at EpiPen or a rescue inhaler?

Time can be pretty critical for a severe reaction or attack. People do die from both allergic reactions and asthma. If severe, I could see allowing a kid to carry a phone with their EpiPen or inhaler (e.g., while outside at gym class) to make sure they have access to rapid emergency services.

I 100% agree that allergic reactions and asthma attacks can be serious/deadly and that ambulances need to be called sometimes, but it is still not clear to me that a kid having their own phone would help in such a situation. Wouldn't they be better off having the teacher call 911 while they are using the inhaler or the epipen than the kid calling themselves? it seems to me that this is an argument for teachers having a phone, which I assume will continue to be the case (either land line, cell or walkie talkie).

Meh. Not my call. I could just see someone being able to make a reasonable case that their phone should be zipped into a fanny pack with their meds and kept with the student in case of an emergency. That seems to be a low ask as long as the phone stays away unless there's an emergency.

I am the PP who you are responding to. If it were my kid, I would not want them to have a phone in their fanny back because I would want them focused on the inhaler/epipen and not calling 911 (which someone else could easily do) but if another parent wanted to make a different call it sounds like that would be allowed under this policy and is not a reason to oppose the broader bell-to-bell ban.

I have a child with an epipen and a different child with a rescue inhaler. I do not support either child having access to their phones in school. Under either scenario they will not be on their phones.

Agree as a parent of a kid who had to use an epipen recently. In an allergy/asthma emergency, my kids need to stay calm and a teacher or other adult should call 911.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is clearly a market for school allowed “pager phones” that can send quick messages and make phone calls. That would allay a lot of the concerns of the apron string parents, and reduce the distraction in the classroom since these would be boring bricks.

Apple Watch is almost that, but too expensive and too many features.

Apple used to be big on education; making a classroom compliant family communicator (so it could be blue message bubbles) would be a compromise.

This is just crazy. What on earth does a parent need to tell their child during the school day? Anything important can be routed through the office. Anything unimportant can sit in text messages until school is over. Anxiety meds sound like a better solution than pager phones.

(Any kid with a medical need will get an exemption and carry their phone, no this doesn't apply to legit needs.)

+1 does everyone forget that we somehow managed to make it through the school day without phones?

I just finished reading The Anxious Generation and it's really an eye-opener about how the phone-based childhood/adolescence is having tremendously negative impacts on mental health and early adolescents are particularly vulnerable.

I’m 100% for bell to bell bans, they don’t belong in school at all.

I’m not even sure of the “medically necessary” need for a phone, can someone explain how that works? Are they using the phone as a glucose monitor or something?

But assuming we won’t win and get an actual ban, dumbing down allowed phones would help a lot.

Yes, some phones control insulin pumps. Some kids are highly allergic or asthmatic and may need a phone in case they have to use an EpiPen or rescue inhaler. I think there are also phone apps for issues like epilepsy or to change the mode for hearing aids.

I totally get the need for a phone if you have diabetes or a hearing aid etc, but why do kids need a phone if they need at EpiPen or a rescue inhaler?

google phone app to manage asthma

Presumably students who need these apps would be allowed to keep their phones. THis is not a reason to allow all students to have their phones with them all day

We should get purpose built medical devices not phones to do most of these tasks. If medical reasons are the only reason to have phones in school, we will suddenly have an “out break” of epilepsy or whatnot among school population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Must everything on this forum involve APE?? Some of you are obsessed. Go back to your echo chamber.

Not everything, but this discussion does involve APE because they involved themselves. The APEs been lobbying really hard on this, speaking before the Board, writing a letter, they even have a template letter on their website.

Gasp! An advocacy group is advocating! Clutch my pearls! Where’s the fainting couch!

Seriously get a grip. Nearly every convo here has some lunatic looking for an APE connection. It’s like 10 People now right? People can care about what’s happening in APS and not be APE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Must everything on this forum involve APE?? Some of you are obsessed. Go back to your echo chamber.

Not everything, but this discussion does involve APE because they involved themselves. The APEs been lobbying really hard on this, speaking before the Board, writing a letter, they even have a template letter on their website.

Gasp! An advocacy group is advocating! Clutch my pearls! Where’s the fainting couch!

Seriously get a grip. Nearly every convo here has some lunatic looking for an APE connection. It’s like 10 People now right? People can care about what’s happening in APS and not be APE.

Yeah… I don’t care who advocates for it. The phones aren’t good for the kids, and they should not be on them during class. I thank them.

[Anonymous]

PSA; if your kid has a health condition and already has an IEP or a 504, having a cell phone can be added to the plan. For kids with a medical need a new plan, the policy outlines a process for having your kid keep their phone. It's all clearly written down in the very short policy draft they distributed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is clearly a market for school allowed “pager phones” that can send quick messages and make phone calls. That would allay a lot of the concerns of the apron string parents, and reduce the distraction in the classroom since these would be boring bricks.

Apple Watch is almost that, but too expensive and too many features.

Apple used to be big on education; making a classroom compliant family communicator (so it could be blue message bubbles) would be a compromise.

This is just crazy. What on earth does a parent need to tell their child during the school day? Anything important can be routed through the office. Anything unimportant can sit in text messages until school is over. Anxiety meds sound like a better solution than pager phones.

(Any kid with a medical need will get an exemption and carry their phone, no this doesn't apply to legit needs.)

+1 does everyone forget that we somehow managed to make it through the school day without phones?

I just finished reading The Anxious Generation and it's really an eye-opener about how the phone-based childhood/adolescence is having tremendously negative impacts on mental health and early adolescents are particularly vulnerable.

I’m 100% for bell to bell bans, they don’t belong in school at all.

I’m not even sure of the “medically necessary” need for a phone, can someone explain how that works? Are they using the phone as a glucose monitor or something?

But assuming we won’t win and get an actual ban, dumbing down allowed phones would help a lot.

Yes, some phones control insulin pumps. Some kids are highly allergic or asthmatic and may need a phone in case they have to use an EpiPen or rescue inhaler. I think there are also phone apps for issues like epilepsy or to change the mode for hearing aids.

I totally get the need for a phone if you have diabetes or a hearing aid etc, but why do kids need a phone if they need at EpiPen or a rescue inhaler?

google phone app to manage asthma

Presumably students who need these apps would be allowed to keep their phones. THis is not a reason to allow all students to have their phones with them all day

simmer down! this is literally in response to someone who asked why a kid with an inhaler for asthma might need their phone.