My co-worker keeps in touch with her son this way; this is how they say "I love you" to each other during breaks and how she knows if he is ok, if he missed the bus or if his dad did not pick him up from school as part of the custody agreement and she needs to have someone else pick him up instead. It increases communication between parent and child, especially in the case of emergencies and also helps brings them together, or so I think based on what I see with her son. Of course, the parent needs to teach the child about responsibility when it comes to the phone, such as having the phone turned off during class, no getting distracted with it, no sexting, and other such things. It's about teaching your kid what appropriate usage constitutes and what responsibility means instead of sheltering them from technology. Would you not let your kid have a laptop either? That's pretty much what it comes down to...

I misread the original question. Do I think it should be outlawed completely? No. I do think that cell phones should not be allowed in the classrooms however. There is no purpose for them there. If there is a family emergency, a parent can call the school just like they did before the era of cell phones. In between classes, or after school, it is a way to keep in touch with your child. But to allow them in classrooms is ridiculous. We didn't even have cell phones in our high school, we had pagers; and we couldn't leave class to answer them! I don't think outlawing it would be a solution because it would be difficult to enforce. Who would be punished, the parents? Definitely not a solution, but new rules/laws with schools need to be made and enforced.

My child has a cell phone. It goes to school, it comes home from school. The school's rules are phones used during class will be confiscated. Thus, we teach our children about consequences for their actions!

It's my place to decide if my child has a phone and if it goes to school or not. It's the schools place to decide what happens if rules during the school day are violated.

Let's face it - you're not going to get kids to stop texting. What we can do is teach them there is a time and a place for everything.

I do not believe cell phones should be turned on in the classrooms, children are their to learn. As far as parental obligation, it is every parents responsibility to rear their children properly. Unfortunately, this instant gratification, materialistic society we created has produced disconnected children.

I am not saying all children fall under this category but the majority do. Parents gave up responsibility of rearing their children when moms went back to work. They allowed other people to raise their children (day cares) but without discipline. Because we all know no parent wants someone else telling them how to discipline THEIR CHILD. Well here is a news flash for those of you who fall under this category, you have done a crappy job.

Love, friendship, discipline, responsibility, accountability, etc.etc. are qualities that are taught. Call me old fashioned but I have two young men who have reared wonderful children. I base this on being home during their younger years, teaching them right from wrong. Yes, we made sacrifices so that they would be upstanding citizens in our society. My sons grew up with Nintendo, and that was only after their homework was done.

Today, we shuffle kids from soccer, basketball, baseball, ballet and spend very little time with them. Yes, it is wonderful to be well rounded and worldly but at what expense. Sundays use to be family day, now corporate greed has everyone working and shopping on Sundays.How about visiting the grandparents or playing with your children, go on a picnic, swimming anything as long as your together. Oh and we cannot forget the dinner table. It has been replaced with Mcdonalds and other fast food places. I don't think the majority of women even know how to cook today or even plan a menu, very sad.

The domestic goddesses of the past, yes that is what they were. Housewives, is such a demeaning term for such a critical job. These women are becoming extinct because our grandparents are passing on. Hopefully, someday we will get back to the basics were values and morals play a major role in our lives. Sorry for going on a tantrum, I know this subject started out about cell phones. It's upsetting to see such a lost generation of kids due to high tech.

My dad will text me WHILE HE KNOWS THAT I AM IN CLASS to figure out plans for later: if he needs to pick me up, what I'll make for supper, who's house I'm going to, etc. I'm not saying that this is the best option, as it does distract me from the class that I'm in. I'm just pointing out that it's not necessary to be so uptight about this issue.

Banning texting for minors would be hard to regulate, and fairly pointless. If teens are going to start fights, they will do it anyways. Sure, cell phones aren't necessary, but they can be very helpful.