Reply to Executive Order decreeing "cell-phone free" education in k-12

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What happened to parents getting a say?  I love that my son has a cell phone.  [b]I know he doesn't take it out in class (that's not allowed, and he follows the rules).[/b]  I love that he can contact me if something goes wrong or he wants to stay late or needs a ride.  There have been shooter incidences where the kids texting parents were the only way they would have known.  I don't trust FCPS one bit to take care of my child.  I want him to be able to reach me if he needs to.  So much for parents' rights.  [/quote]

So then what's the issue?[/quote]

The issue is that FCPS wants to simply take the phones and lock them away, not just forbid the kids from using them in class. [b]Right now they can use them at lunch and during[/b] free periods or between classes.  Honestly, it's been great having him be able to communicate when necessary.  It's simply not true that parents can call the school or kids can call home.  You can't call the school.  The office at our high will not give your kid any kind of message unless it's some kind of dire emergency - they can't even usually find them.  And kids don't have access to a phone other than their cell phones - the office doesn't let a kid walk in and make a call.  So people who say that have no idea how schools work.  Without a cell phone your kid might as well be in prison for the day for all you can contact them and vice versa.[/quote]
Honestly, some of the most damaging stuff involving cell phones happens during this time.  Kids recording other kids without their permission, accessing questionable material and sharing it with other kids. It’s not just the distraction in class and it is very hard to police what happens with phones during times that are unstructured and have less supervision than class time. When school staff do find out about these issues, parents often fight consequences. Cell phones in schools are problematic on so many levels. [/quote]

I agree. Do your kids have laptops they are on during school- you can still email them and even text on many devices (not phones). This concern about changing plans with parents- easily addressed and phones can still be put away especially during those more unstructured times like lunch, free periods and breaks/between classes. This is for the health of our kids- socially, emotionally, mentally. I love that people on both sides are behind this. It says a lot about a change being needed. [/quote]

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