[FrankR]

"I say the schools need to have a strict no cell phone policy. "

Exactly!

Other places of importance ban cell phones and so can the schools.

A couple of years ago I went and took the U.S.Postal Carriers exam, and we were told that if they heard a cell phone ring, that person would immediately be escorted out of the building and given an "F" on their test. There were two there who did not believe it...and when their phones rang, they were flunked and escorted out.

There is no need under the sun for a kid to have a cell phone at school. I don't think they even need one until they go to college, at least. It's become a national obsession.

[VRWCmember]

There is no need under the sun for a kid to have a cell phone at school.

You can't see some type of natural or person-made emergency that might necessitate the ability of your child to be able to contact you (or the authorities) by cell phone from school? I can think of several scenarios where I want my son to have access to his cell phone at school -- even though it must be turned off and kept out of sight during instructional periods.

[riverdawg]

I had a similar experience while waiting in a courtroom recently for possible jury duty. The Clerk of Court came in and gave everyone 30 seconds to turn off their cell phones. After 30 seconds, anyone whose cell phone rang was to be held in contempt of court and escorted to the courthouse lockup by a Sheriff’s deputy. Nobody’s phone rang ... and, even better, the judge subsequently announced that the pending case had been settled out of court at the last minute and then he dismissed all of us potential jurors.

[STONEWALLS]

“A couple of years ago I went and took the U.S.Postal Carriers exam, and we were told that if they heard a cell phone ring, that person would immediately be escorted out of the building and given an “F” on their test.”

.....if only white table cloth restaurants felt that way....also lecture classes...I really liked this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs6pxvFmrm8

[dmz]

There is no need under the sun for a kid to have a cell phone at school.

Thanks for opining about my kid, but frankly, I want my kid to have the cell phone on her person whenever she is not under my roof.

My kid. My call. You go ahead and do whatever you want for yours.