As a teacher in an inner city, I believe a 6th grader should be able to carry their cell phone and STORE it IN THEIR LOCKER – to be used for emergency only.

I can’t tell you how many children miss a bus or are waiting for a ride that is late; many times their will be an early dismissal due to inclement weather in winter – and some parents are hard to reach. YES, the school can intervene with a phone call – but to foster independence I believe a cell phone can be brought to school and kept in a locker. It should not be kept in a pocket or backpack.

Even if the school allows it, it is too easy to have the 6th grader misplace it or put it where someone else can take it. My daughter only took a phone on days when she was going to be gone for sports so that she could call us in time for us to meet the bus at the school when it got back late.