"I feel so empty," said may Chom, 14, speaking of the phone that she had left at home in Queens after hearing of the new policy. With no cell phone, may said, there is also no way to listen to music on the way to Lab School, on West 17th street, making for a "really, really" boring subway ride. (Uh? How about reading a book????)
A report in the NYTimes about school ban on cell phones angers parents. Here are some quotes from parents in the article:
"I have her call me when she gets out of school and gets on the bus. Then I have her call me when she gets off the bus. And I have her call me when she gets in the house. The chancellor will have a civil disobedience on his hands. No one in New York is going to let their child go to school without a cell phone. "
"The prospect of no cell phones phones has sparked a furor among anxious parents, who say that amid the juggle of demanding work schedules, mounting extracurricular activities, doctor appointments, tutoring and long trek to schools--not to mention the fear of child predators and terrorists attacks--cell phones are not a frill but the mortar holding NYC families together. many say that sending their children to school without cell phones is unimaginable."
There is so much wrong with the above statements--'demanding work schedules'? Why so you can have cell phones, Ipods, wall TVs? "It is cell phones that are holding a family together." How sad!!!
A psychiatrist has the nerve to say, about the ban, "I think it shows a big lack of awareness of the essential nature of having a way to communicate with your child during the day."
Sorry, I was in school from 9 AM to 3PM and didn't communicate with my parents--I had the responsibility of being where I was suppose to be when I was suppose to be there.
A cell phone for music?? My school years were spent reading whether it was school books or to learn about the world via fiction and nonfiction.
If I was suppose to be someplace and had to communicate with one of my parents there was always a pay phone to call--true there aren't many pay phones around today but I don't know a place of business that won't let you make a local call if a pay phone isn't available.
Children/kids/teenagers have many more problems today then we did yesteryear and I wonder how much technology has to do with that?
And let's not even get into the non-essential uses kids have for cell phones today--text messaging--taking pictures, etc. Teachers have it hard enough teaching unruly kids today without battling cell phones.
I'm sorry but kids today have too many distractions outside of school--they don't need them in school--and the poor showing of their learning skills proves that.
Okay, end of rant :o)
12 comments on Did You Have a Cell Phone at the Age of 14????
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I admire your not fussing to get one.[THUMBUP]
AJ
AJ
Again I went through 8 hours of school not being allowed to make calls--if something was wrong or it was an emergency an adult (teacher, nurse, principal, etc.) made a call--and I certainly couldn't call a parent at work.
Yes, it is convenient and easier for a parent--I'm not saying you are that type of parent so don't be offended but I just don't see ANY reason for an 8 year old to have a cell phone.[SAD]
Juan