Cell phone ban in schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents want a cell phone ban until they experience a lockdown or crisis and can't reach their kids.

MCPS isn't going to unlock them or allow the kids to get to the phones and has done a terrible job of communicating to parents and to kids and staff locked in closets for hours.

Put the phones on the teachers desk and move on.

It's not that big of a deal and if you take them away, the kids will find other options.

My own child said he is worried if he can't reach me but said he will find other ways to do it (smart watch, carrying a backup phone or by computer where he can text anyway).

We need to stop comparing school today to what is was like 30 years ago before school shootings. Our kids have a lot more to worry about than we did.

Some parents want a cell phone ban, others don't. Usually its the ones constantly on social media who want the schools to parent their kids or looking for attention.

If you don't want your kid on a phone at school lock it down or don't give it to them.
If kids are inappropriately using them during class the obvious answer is the teacher to give a warning and take them and parents can pick them up in the office during school hours. If the behavior continues (and hopefully the parents will give consequences) the school should give a lunch or after-school detention.

So sounds like you’re in support of the phone ban.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents want a cell phone ban until they experience a lockdown or crisis and can't reach their kids.

MCPS isn't going to unlock them or allow the kids to get to the phones and has done a terrible job of communicating to parents and to kids and staff locked in closets for hours.

Put the phones on the teachers desk and move on.

It's not that big of a deal and if you take them away, the kids will find other options.

My own child said he is worried if he can't reach me but said he will find other ways to do it (smart watch, carrying a backup phone or by computer where he can text anyway).

We need to stop comparing school today to what is was like 30 years ago before school shootings. Our kids have a lot more to worry about than we did.

Some parents want a cell phone ban, others don't. Usually its the ones constantly on social media who want the schools to parent their kids or looking for attention.

If you don't want your kid on a phone at school lock it down or don't give it to them.
If kids are inappropriately using them during class the obvious answer is the teacher to give a warning and take them and parents can pick them up in the office during school hours. If the behavior continues (and hopefully the parents will give consequences) the school should give a lunch or after-school detention.

So sounds like you’re in support of the phone ban.

Huh? NO, I support students having parent-monitored phones that they keep on them and if they are not appropriately used, teachers take them. Very different. My children and their phones are MY responsibility. And, as my responsibility I want a way for them to contact me and me to contact them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents want a cell phone ban until they experience a lockdown or crisis and can't reach their kids.

MCPS isn't going to unlock them or allow the kids to get to the phones and has done a terrible job of communicating to parents and to kids and staff locked in closets for hours.

Put the phones on the teachers desk and move on.

It's not that big of a deal and if you take them away, the kids will find other options.

My own child said he is worried if he can't reach me but said he will find other ways to do it (smart watch, carrying a backup phone or by computer where he can text anyway).

We need to stop comparing school today to what is was like 30 years ago before school shootings. Our kids have a lot more to worry about than we did.

Some parents want a cell phone ban, others don't. Usually its the ones constantly on social media who want the schools to parent their kids or looking for attention.

If you don't want your kid on a phone at school lock it down or don't give it to them.
If kids are inappropriately using them during class the obvious answer is the teacher to give a warning and take them and parents can pick them up in the office during school hours. If the behavior continues (and hopefully the parents will give consequences) the school should give a lunch or after-school detention.

So sounds like you’re in support of the phone ban.

Huh? NO, I support students having parent-monitored phones that they keep on them and if they are not appropriately used, teachers take them. Very different. My children and their phones are MY responsibility. And, as my responsibility I want a way for them to contact me and me to contact them.

You can contact them easily- call the school. They can contact you by going to the front office. Simple. Requires zero cell phones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents want a cell phone ban until they experience a lockdown or crisis and can't reach their kids.

MCPS isn't going to unlock them or allow the kids to get to the phones and has done a terrible job of communicating to parents and to kids and staff locked in closets for hours.

Put the phones on the teachers desk and move on.

It's not that big of a deal and if you take them away, the kids will find other options.

My own child said he is worried if he can't reach me but said he will find other ways to do it (smart watch, carrying a backup phone or by computer where he can text anyway).

We need to stop comparing school today to what is was like 30 years ago before school shootings. Our kids have a lot more to worry about than we did.

During a crisis, your kid should be focused on paying attention to the directions given to them, not texting you. Their life could depend on it. Texting you is just a distraction and only makes you feel better. It doesn’t make your kid any safer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents want a cell phone ban until they experience a lockdown or crisis and can't reach their kids.

MCPS isn't going to unlock them or allow the kids to get to the phones and has done a terrible job of communicating to parents and to kids and staff locked in closets for hours.

Put the phones on the teachers desk and move on.

It's not that big of a deal and if you take them away, the kids will find other options.

My own child said he is worried if he can't reach me but said he will find other ways to do it (smart watch, carrying a backup phone or by computer where he can text anyway).

We need to stop comparing school today to what is was like 30 years ago before school shootings. Our kids have a lot more to worry about than we did.

Some parents want a cell phone ban, others don't. Usually its the ones constantly on social media who want the schools to parent their kids or looking for attention.

If you don't want your kid on a phone at school lock it down or don't give it to them.
If kids are inappropriately using them during class the obvious answer is the teacher to give a warning and take them and parents can pick them up in the office during school hours. If the behavior continues (and hopefully the parents will give consequences) the school should give a lunch or after-school detention.

So sounds like you’re in support of the phone ban.

Huh? NO, I support students having parent-monitored phones that they keep on them and if they are not appropriately used, teachers take them. Very different. My children and their phones are MY responsibility. And, as my responsibility I want a way for them to contact me and me to contact them.

We’ve already tried that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like others have stated, if the phone is supposed to be away all day in a locker that doesn't prevent the child from making a call AFTER SCHOOL if precious child needs to make arrangements for pickup.

Do you not get that arrangements can get complicated? Let’s say I’m supposed to pick up my child Larlo and Larlo’s friend at 4:30 after xyz afterschool club. On the morning announcements xyz club is canceled. Larlo isn’t allowed to use his phone all day so he calls me after school at 3pm to say he’s riding the bus home but he doesn’t have a key and it’s raining and the bus driver wouldn’t let Larlo’s friend ride his bus so Larlo’s friend stayed at school but his parent can’t pick him up because they are in a meeting downtown so could I race from whatever I am doing and pick up Larlo’s friend from school immediately (90 minutes earlier than planned) and then let Larlo in the house because he’s locked out? With a quick text in the morning, I could have rearranged my day to just pick up both kids at dismissal.

The answer in this scenario is give your kid a key to the house no matter whether you're picking them up or they're catching the bus home. How do you not recognize that?

They should have a key or electronic lock BUT, it would be considerate to tell the parent so they aren't rearranging their day to pick up the kids because there is no bus. See how that works? You must never drive your kids. Our activities get changed regularly at the last minute. Or, kids have to go home and go back for activities as they are scheduled later in the day. There is a lot involved for some kids.

Give the kid a key. Simple. Kid call you from the office at lunch. Kids friend go home like normal (bus, walk). And if all else fails everyone stays at school until 4:30 as planned because they won’t be the only ones there.

This is not difficult.

It really isn't, but PP can't stand the thought of her child having to wait for anything and anxiety spirals if things don't go perfectly as planned in her head.

I’m the PP who came up with the scenario and while I think you are unkind and uncaring, you may not be totally wrong. But maybe it’s generational? I’m a millennial mom and I really try to optimize efficiency and comfort for all. Maybe you’re an older, gen x, walk a mile both ways in the snow latchkey neglected type who is coming from a different perspective?

I’m confused by your scenario for a couple reasons. One is that I don’t understand why larlo’s friend didn’t just go home the way he normally does. But the bigger question is why the kid doesn’t just go to his locker at lunch and sent a quick text. Absolutely no one is gojng to be policing that. It’s ridiculous to oppose the whole policy because you are imaging this scenario that won’t ever happen.
I’m not sure if I support the policy or not but some of the arguments against it just don’t make sense. We are just not doing anything different at all this year. I send my kids with their cell phones. I tell them that if the teacher or hall monitor sees them, they will probably lose them and that will be their own damn fault for being an idiot about it. If you need to send a quick text, go into the bathroom with all the kids vaping, or just do it in the class of the teacher who doesn’t care at all. This is really not rocket science.

[Anonymous]

FYI for those complaining about club cancellations — WJHS sends out the morning announcements to all parents every morning. I bet other schools would do that if you asked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FYI for those complaining about club cancellations — WJHS sends out the morning announcements to all parents every morning. I bet other schools would do that if you asked.

My kids would hang out for the hour until I got there.

[Anonymous]

Bottom line: parents should control kid's phone NOT make teachers and staff do so. Please check your kids' access, set parental controls. If you need assistance on the tech, reach out to fellow parents at your kid's school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bottom line: parents should control kid's phone NOT make teachers and staff do so. Please check your kids' access, set parental controls. If you need assistance on the tech, reach out to fellow parents at your kid's school.

Kids distract all the other kids around them with their phone. Your crippling anxiety over not being able to reach your kids 24/7 doesn't change this fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents want a cell phone ban until they experience a lockdown or crisis and can't reach their kids.

MCPS isn't going to unlock them or allow the kids to get to the phones and has done a terrible job of communicating to parents and to kids and staff locked in closets for hours.

Put the phones on the teachers desk and move on.

It's not that big of a deal and if you take them away, the kids will find other options.

My own child said he is worried if he can't reach me but said he will find other ways to do it (smart watch, carrying a backup phone or by computer where he can text anyway).

We need to stop comparing school today to what is was like 30 years ago before school shootings. Our kids have a lot more to worry about than we did.

Some parents want a cell phone ban, others don't. Usually its the ones constantly on social media who want the schools to parent their kids or looking for attention.

If you don't want your kid on a phone at school lock it down or don't give it to them.
If kids are inappropriately using them during class the obvious answer is the teacher to give a warning and take them and parents can pick them up in the office during school hours. If the behavior continues (and hopefully the parents will give consequences) the school should give a lunch or after-school detention.

So sounds like you’re in support of the phone ban.

Huh? NO, I support students having parent-monitored phones that they keep on them and if they are not appropriately used, teachers take them. Very different. My children and their phones are MY responsibility. And, as my responsibility I want a way for them to contact me and me to contact them.

You can contact them easily- call the school. They can contact you by going to the front office. Simple. Requires zero cell phones.

Its not the school's job and I'm not calling the school to have a staff member have to pull out of class for a message. They will always have a phone or watch or both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bottom line: parents should control kid's phone NOT make teachers and staff do so. Please check your kids' access, set parental controls. If you need assistance on the tech, reach out to fellow parents at your kid's school.

Kids distract all the other kids around them with their phone. Your crippling anxiety over not being able to reach your kids 24/7 doesn't change this fact.

Worry about your own kids and I'll worry about mine. Why can't you put down your electronics? You seem to have crippling anxiety over it so you are worried what, your kids will have it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FYI for those complaining about club cancellations — WJHS sends out the morning announcements to all parents every morning. I bet other schools would do that if you asked.

You're funny, some schools are good about it, we only hear asking for money or an emergency or something happened. That would be nice and teachers sending a weekly email on what assignments are due when.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI for those complaining about club cancellations — WJHS sends out the morning announcements to all parents every morning. I bet other schools would do that if you asked.

My kids would hang out for the hour until I got there.

Or, you could be a responsible parent and get them on time and not make staff wait till you decide to grace everyone with your presence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI for those complaining about club cancellations — WJHS sends out the morning announcements to all parents every morning. I bet other schools would do that if you asked.

My kids would hang out for the hour until I got there.

Or, you could be a responsible parent and get them on time and not make staff wait till you decide to grace everyone with your presence.

If they were in MVA then they'd already be home.