Anonymous wrote:How bout you don't send your kid to school with a phone and don't worry about what other kids are doing?

That's great, but then some kid with a cell data plan sits next to your kid on the bus and watches something they can't unsee.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I spoke to a friend whose son is in middle school in VA (public) and she told me her son reported that the kids don't actually talk at lunchtime because they're all on their phones. That is very alarming to me

Why?

I was at my son's BTSN last year (HS Senior) and in two of his classes - AP English and Honors Leadership/Communication - both teachers addressed the plummeting decline in our children's ability to verbally communicate and write expansively. They were both teachers with 20+ years of experience and said what they are seeing has become a critical problem in the past few years and they directly blamed it on the "texting/twitter/FB" culture that exists. It was an issue they were having to address in their classrooms in the form of remediation. So, OP, you are right to have concerns.

Starting in 7th grade, Fairfax County has a BYOD (bring your own device) policy (http://www.fcps.edu/it/byod/) so yes, they are allowed cell phones in school.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I spoke to a friend whose son is in middle school in VA (public) and she told me her son reported that the kids don't actually talk at lunchtime because they're all on their phones. That is very alarming to me

Why?

I think it makes sense in the younger years (middle school) to have stricter limits on cell phones. Once they are in high school, giving them more freedom is important in their development. I would never send my child to a high school which does not allow cell phone use at all (i.e. outside of classroom).

I would think the policies would continue to evolve in the coming years so I don't think I would pick a school based on this.

At out private middle school they are to be off and in lockers during the school day, unless an exception is made by a staff member. They can be used before the first bell and after the last bell.

Students at the associated high school can have them on their person, and use them during the day during free time outside or in common areas (not in classrooms) unless an exception is made by a staff member.

Anonymous wrote:Well DC is in high school, but they allow cell phone usage in certain parts of the school (cafeteria, library, outside, etc), but not in others. But by high school, hopefully kids will have more self control than younger ones. I actually like that I can communicate with him during the day (via texting).

+1. This has been highly useful to our family on several occasions.

OP here. I spoke to a friend whose son is in middle school in VA (public) and she told me her son reported that the kids don't actually talk at lunchtime because they're all on their phones. That is very alarming to me - and that's why I asked here. Sorry if some think I'm being overly concerned about it but it seems this is a serious issue in some schools. The responses so far have reassured me, at least as far as privates are concerned.

Well DC is in high school, but they allow cell phone usage in certain parts of the school (cafeteria, library, outside, etc), but not in others. But by high school, hopefully kids will have more self control than younger ones. I actually like that I can communicate with him during the day (via texting).

Our private has a no cell phone policy. This is a K-8 school. I expect most of the privates, even K-12, will have a no cell phone use policy during school hours. At middle school and up, the schools will likely have a "you can have it on campus, but it stays in your locker or backpack or it is confiscated" type of policy. Probably not something you should be terribly worried about.

I am pretty sure all schools require cell phones to remain in a backpack during the day. I am shocked that this is a high priority for you. Weird...

Our private has a policy of no cell phone use during the school day and in aftercare. It's okay for kids to have them in their bags, but they're not to use them or they will be confiscated.

How bout you don't send your kid to school with a phone and don't worry about what other kids are doing?

Curious about what (if anything) schools are doing to limit cell phone use during the school day. My kids are in K and 1st so it's early but we will be applying to privates next year and this issue is high on my priority list (a school that is good at controlling cell phone usage). Thanks.