Principally Speaking…

by Dr. Wendy A. Bonaiuito

Cell Phone Policy for Elementary Schools

Some families rely on cell phones to hear from their children about the children’s arrival at school in the morning, or their arrival at home after school.  But once the children are at the school, cell phones should be turned off and put in backpacks.  Cell phones at school are off and in backpacks.  Cell phones taken out of backpacks during the school day will be put in the office and the parents of the student contacted to review the cell phone practice with their children.

Cell phones have presented difficulties for elementary students in other ways recently.  There is a growing number of students who are finding it difficult to focus and concentrate in school due to cell phone texting and phone conversations that are happening well into the night. We’ve also been made aware of inappropriate language, messages and phone calls—some even threatening from one student to another.

Technology is great to have, but it seems that the use of emails, phones and texting has become an “anonymous” way to hurt others, since it’s not happening face to face.  In reality, hurtful words and threats are just as painfully felt in word form.

Here are some ideas families have used to protect their children:

1. Have children “turn their phones in” at night for charging in a central location.

2. Take phones from 10-12 year olds at bedtime.

3. When your child has received a profane or threatening email, text or voice mail…please contact the parent of the child’s phone in question. They will want to know how the phone they are paying for is being used.

4.  Enforce bed times and consider removing TVs and video game systems from bedrooms. If students use their brainpower up playing games into the night, there will not be brainpower left for school the next day.

Thank you for your time and consideration on this matter.