Should teens get their own cell phone?

I'm glad your daughters are responsible and able to manage their cell phone usage. You truly are a remarkable parent.

However, this thread is littered with tales of huge bills and irresponsible usage. Let me be clear about one thing: Some teens are capable of managing a cell phone account. Parenting has something to do with that. But the vast majority of teens use their cell phones as I previously stated, and as any clear-headed parent or educator knows -- to talk to their friends. And yes, it does matter whom they call. Civilization has flourished for centuries without any electronic communication at all, and yet we've survived. Do these kids really need to talk to their friends every two hours?

Yes, it does make a difference whom they talk to. Drama rehearsal, track and field, football, field hockey, I don't care what the activity is: They all end at a certain time so that the students can catch the late bus, or the parents have a reliable time to pick up their kids. Schools where this isn't happening need a wake-up call. Any school that told me I needed to give my kid a cell phone because they didn't know when their activities would end would get a visit to a school board meeting, ASAP!!

I'm sure that your daughters are not responsible for in-class disruption; I'm sure they're model citizens. But the other 90 percent of students are not. As much as I hate blanket rules that punish good students for the bad deeds of others, the value of cell phones simply does not outweigh the value of an uninterrupted class, no matter who's responsible.

I'll modify my position: Anyone at any age should be able to have a cell phone, as long as I never have to see or hear it, or stand around as a hall monitor because some (irresponsible) coach kept the team too long and made the kids miss the late bus...

 

I have never heard a cell phone go off in my school, if I did, I know it would be taken away and released the the parent/guardian. I could safely say over 65% of kids in my school own them, I go to a public High School so dont go bs-ing me about rich kids, or more responsible kids. These are your average kids....I think 1-5% MIGHT abuse their cell phone but I know it isnt the "other 90%" abuse it as people here say they do.

 

Asking whether 'teens' should have cellphones is like asking whether teens should have friends, talk, stay-in-touch-with-their-parents, cousins, camp-mates, have enhanced personal security as they go out 'on their own' -- or not. Of course they should have a phone in their pocket, charged and blinking, at ALL times. I don't want my 14 year old daughter who is just now going out and about here in New York City alone to take one step outside the door without that phone in her hand. I think many of us are failing to appreciate that the ubiquitous ability to communicate is one of the greatest advances humanity has ever experienced. Of course teens should have cellphones, and so should pre-teens and even little-bitty Teletubbies. As soon as they can possibly dial the phone they ought to have one. These are wonderful devices that bring myriad blessings. I remember when the big issue was 'should teens have their own phone in their room' and i felt the same way about that: Of course they should! It's a wonderful thing for everyone to have a way to communicate over distance, and these wireless phones not only bring far greater security to our children as they move about in the world but they enhance their lives immeasurably, ESPECIALLY during the teen years when kid-to-kid contact is such a critical developmental imperative. If the cost is an issue in your family, well that's unfortunate, but cost is a separate issue and very family-specific. Certainly anyone who can afford to have a cellphone should have one, regardless of age. It is a very significant enhancement. Does the young person have to learn how to control their use of it? Yes, of course. Learn how to 'hang up and get their homework done' - ? Yes, of course. But let's not confuse these use issues with the basic question: Should teens get their own cellphone: Absolutely they should, and every single one of them should have it. Where cost is not the issue a parent would be making a grave error to deny their teen a cellphone.

 

So..that last post...how much of that was sarcasim and how much was real?
I agree with some points its just...it sounds a little too..I don't know.