Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is trying to convince me to get him an iPhone, but not sure if it is actually helpful. He is going into 9th grade to a math/science school.

Why not a simple flip phone? More than enough for voice and text, and little/ no distractions

Because it's hard to text on a flip phone and no one in high school has them anymore. Kid sounds like a good kid. Don't punish him by forcing a flip phone on him!

Oh, the horror!!!!! Next it will be buy him a new car. Don't punish him by forcing him to drive some sad ass old hooptie to school!"

OP here. We actually told him that he will be expected to buy his own car. We will cover other expenses like insurance, cover the down payment, and use our credit to pull out a loan- but he is responsible of repairs, monthly payments, etc.

The thing is that we want DS to be prepared for the real world and to respect money.

Why would you want your high school kid to buy his own car and have a monthly loan and pay for repairs. That makes no sense. If anything, you buy the car and he pay for gas and insurance.

I think that it's especially important for HS kids to have smartphones. It's the perfect time to start teaching them about sexting and self-control as far as time spent on the device and what apps are allowed on the device.

Also, 95% of all communication done in HS is via text & apps. I know my DD even has a few classes where an app was used during a lesson (physics & chemistry). And before anyone jumps in with "well if the school wants them to learn from an app, they should provide them with the device" line, yes, each class had a few tablets that students without smart devices could use.

Get Republic Wireless they have a $10 a month for unlimited text and calls. He doesn't need an Iphone.

Except Facebook messenger requires a data plan, which is a complete rip off on Republic now.

OP, it is 2016 - the teachers are constantly posting materials on line and your kid may want to access those materials during the 90 minute ride home. As many people have already said, smart phones are used in a lot of classrooms in HS and don't have to be hidden away like in middle school. If he doesn't have 3 hours of homework to do on the bus every day, maybe he would like a little break or distraction or to see what's going in the world. Don't you ever look at your phone just for fun?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is trying to convince me to get him an iPhone, but not sure if it is actually helpful. He is going into 9th grade to a math/science school.

Why not a simple flip phone? More than enough for voice and text, and little/ no distractions

Because it's hard to text on a flip phone and no one in high school has them anymore. Kid sounds like a good kid. Don't punish him by forcing a flip phone on him!

Oh, the horror!!!!! Next it will be buy him a new car. Don't punish him by forcing him to drive some sad ass old hooptie to school!"

OP here. We actually told him that he will be expected to buy his own car. We will cover other expenses like insurance, cover the down payment, and use our credit to pull out a loan- but he is responsible of repairs, monthly payments, etc.

The thing is that we want DS to be prepared for the real world and to respect money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at TJ. EVERYONE has a smartphone. EVERYONE.

And they almost exclusively use Facebook Messenger for group chats. His IBET will set one up for the year that will be his lifeline for freshman year. Pretty much every single class and group project he has at TJ will end up with a student initiated group chat on text or a FB Messenger group. His 2020 class will have a FB group. They also use the cameras on their smartphones for assignments. Most teachers at TJ have a text message group they set up for homework and assignments. The teachers basically expect every single kid to have a smartphone.

Do him and you a favor and get him a smartphone.

Does TJ offer to pay for phones and plans for students who can't afford them?

Yes.

They also offer to wipe your ass, if you can't afford toilet paper.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at TJ. EVERYONE has a smartphone. EVERYONE.

And they almost exclusively use Facebook Messenger for group chats. His IBET will set one up for the year that will be his lifeline for freshman year. Pretty much every single class and group project he has at TJ will end up with a student initiated group chat on text or a FB Messenger group. His 2020 class will have a FB group. They also use the cameras on their smartphones for assignments. Most teachers at TJ have a text message group they set up for homework and assignments. The teachers basically expect every single kid to have a smartphone.

Do him and you a favor and get him a smartphone.

Does TJ offer to pay for phones and plans for students who can't afford them?

Pshhhhhh, TJ is one of the richest school in the county, if not state. Every TJ kid parent is either a surgeon or programmer.
Why would they need such a program?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is trying to convince me to get him an iPhone, but not sure if it is actually helpful. He is going into 9th grade to a math/science school.

Why not a simple flip phone? More than enough for voice and text, and little/ no distractions

Because it's hard to text on a flip phone and no one in high school has them anymore. Kid sounds like a good kid. Don't punish him by forcing a flip phone on him!

Oh, the horror!!!!! Next it will be buy him a new car. Don't punish him by forcing him to drive some sad ass old hooptie to school!"

I'm sure your kids love you...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is trying to convince me to get him an iPhone, but not sure if it is actually helpful. He is going into 9th grade to a math/science school.

What are his arguments? Do you agree with them?

This coming year (September 6th), he is going to TJ. The school is about an hour and a half away. He says that there may be days where communication is necessary, and using a friends phone just gets embarrassing. Also, he says he wants to stay in contact with his friends from his middle school.

You get it for your needs so you can keep track of him. Its not reasonable for him to constantly ask to use a friend's phone. We do not allow our child except in emergencies to share his phone as if it breaks/drops, who is responsible. He doesn't need an iPhone but you can get him a cheaper smart phone, an older model iPhone that is more affordable or if you have one, upgrade yours and he can have the old one (what we do). Being that far away, is a good reason to have a phone.

Why wouldn't you get him one?

Get Republic Wireless they have a $10 a month for unlimited text and calls. He doesn't need an Iphone.

My teens both have slide phones. They use groupme aps on the tablet for group chats. They both manage quite nicely. We pay $15 (old tmobile plan) a month for unlimited texting and a few hours of phone (which they never use)

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is also looking to get a phone, and I planing on asking a similar question. What are the best Smartphone deals out there, with a low monthly plan. DD is looking into an iPhone or a Samsung phone.

Check out Walmart and Ting for the best cell phone deals. Walmart Straighttalk is about $45 per month for unlimited talk/text and data. Ditto for ting.

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at TJ. EVERYONE has a smartphone. EVERYONE.

And they almost exclusively use Facebook Messenger for group chats. His IBET will set one up for the year that will be his lifeline for freshman year. Pretty much every single class and group project he has at TJ will end up with a student initiated group chat on text or a FB Messenger group. His 2020 class will have a FB group. They also use the cameras on their smartphones for assignments. Most teachers at TJ have a text message group they set up for homework and assignments. The teachers basically expect every single kid to have a smartphone.

Do him and you a favor and get him a smartphone.

Does TJ offer to pay for phones and plans for students who can't afford them?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is trying to convince me to get him an iPhone, but not sure if it is actually helpful. He is going into 9th grade to a math/science school.

Why not a simple flip phone? More than enough for voice and text, and little/ no distractions

Because it's hard to text on a flip phone and no one in high school has them anymore. Kid sounds like a good kid. Don't punish him by forcing a flip phone on him!

Oh, the horror!!!!! Next it will be buy him a new car. Don't punish him by forcing him to drive some sad ass old hooptie to school!"

My daughter is also looking to get a phone, and I planing on asking a similar question. What are the best Smartphone deals out there, with a low monthly plan. DD is looking into an iPhone or a Samsung phone.

I have a kid at TJ. EVERYONE has a smartphone. EVERYONE.

And they almost exclusively use Facebook Messenger for group chats. His IBET will set one up for the year that will be his lifeline for freshman year. Pretty much every single class and group project he has at TJ will end up with a student initiated group chat on text or a FB Messenger group. His 2020 class will have a FB group. They also use the cameras on their smartphones for assignments. Most teachers at TJ have a text message group they set up for homework and assignments. The teachers basically expect every single kid to have a smartphone.

Do him and you a favor and get him a smartphone.