No Cell Phones On Fletcher School Buses??

[Henry]

Heard recently that students are not allowed to have cell phones on school buses.  Is this only in Fletcher or is that a First Student Rule?  Had not heard of that before.  Can't quite understand the reasoning behind it as a recent survey indicated that about 80% of students have cell phones.  Does Fairfax have a restriction??

Some Psychiatrist mentioned that he didn't think it was a healthy situation for kids to use cell phones to have parents help them solve problems.  I doubt that the Psychiatrist was with it as I don't think most students have phones for that reason.  Many parents let their children have cell phones to contact them for rides home or let them know where they are.  We always liked to know where our kids were and to this day, our youngest daughter, now well out of her teens, still lets us know where she is.  It is a rare situation when I ask Maryann, I wonder where Mary Kay is that she can't tell me.

[Sue W.]

I think cell phones are  wonderful in some respects.  Kids can always reach their parents, and usually the other way around too!  Although, I am sure kids feel the reason their parents provide cell phones to them is for the kids' convenience ( textiing etc.) !  My son recently came home from SC and between the cell phone and Internet, I was able to track his progress even when his flight was delayed by 3 hours.  It is a great piece of mind.  I am glad my parents have one as well.

People that carry on loud conversations in public places are a bit annoying. 

Maybe on the bus, it would be too much extra noise or distraction between passengers.  There must be a logical reason for the rule?

[Loctavious]

Hi Henry.  Not SURE if the phones aren't PHYSICALLY allowed - i think it's more like Cell Phone USE on the bus isn't allowed.
Fairfax DID have that rule in effect last year - my daughter called to tell me one day that the Busdriver missed her stop and was reported by another student as she was seen using it.  I did clear that up, but the kids are encouraged to turn in anyone using one.  I STILL DON"T KNOW THE OFFICIAL REASON.  I just called Fletcher School and they didn't think the rule had gone into effect - it was discussed, but the person i spoke with didn't think it had been approved.
     If i had to guess, I'd say it was maybe so kids wouldn't miss there, stop?!  Maybe to encourage interactions with other kids?  Or maybe to avoid distracting the driver?

[David Shea]

Most phones have photo capability and some have video.  A picture or video can be uploaded to the web in a matter of seconds.  ( Not by me!)

Maybe "Big Brother" is not welcome on the busses?

[Kathleen]

How did we EVER manage before cell phones!?  And yes, that is sarcasm!

I'm not saying there aren't plus sides to having a cell phone (car broke down, car accident, etc.), but it should be in case of emergencies such as these examples; not hey Mom I'm going to stay after school and hang out with some friends for awhile instead of taking the bus home -- can you pick me up?

Whats wrong with planning ahead and communicating like we did before cell phones?  I tend to agree to a certain extent with the psychologist -- cell phones take planning away, and the ability to communicate face-to-face with live people.  Another news report showed that kids do more texting (a lot more) than actually making phone calls; you don't even have to spell or use grammar and punctuation when texting.

I don't own a cell phone but my daughter, who is away at college, has been trying to get me to have one.  She almost has me convinced to get a phone for my car in case it breaks down.

But what do I know ... the only reason I have a microwave and answering machine are because they were Christmas gifts.