My 6th, 8th, and 9th graders have their own phones. My 8th and 9th graders have unlimited use on their phones but my 6th grader has a Kajeet phone, which is a pay-as-you-go phone and can be programmed from the Kajeet website as to when calls can be made & received as well as what incoming and outgoing numbers to allow. It's specifically a parent-programmed phone for younger kids.
I really like being able to communicate with my kids whenever I need to (at school, phones are on vibrate only and are not allowed to be taken out of purse or pocket unless it's in a discreet area, such as the restroom, since only a parent would be contacting them during school hours anyway).
The phones have proven invaluable for us since everyone has such crazy schedules and events all the time.
I also think that companies shouldn't make things to "keep our children safe", we need to do that on our own. I'm not saying we can be with them 24/7 (I work 50 hours a week) but we need to go back to old fashioned discipline, rules and regulations to ensure our kids are safe and don't venture out alone. That's JMHO, I know some people might think I'm closed minded but I'm not trying to offend. So if I have, I apologise.
Yes we can be better parents but we cannot control what predators do. Look at all the kids taken right from there rooms with the parents down the hall for instance. You cannot control what a person is going to do to your child. Why not use the technology to help keep our children safe?
I read a report that 1.2 million children are trafficked a year worldwide and that number is probably larger. I would do anything if I knew it would give me peace of mind.
They do have phones that are allowed three numbers for children. MOM, Dad and 911. Also GPS on them.
I really like being able to communicate with my kids whenever I need to (at school, phones are on vibrate only and are not allowed to be taken out of purse or pocket unless it's in a discreet area, such as the restroom, since only a parent would be contacting them during school hours anyway).
You might like to communicate with you kid while in school, but so do all the other students. They have downloaded a ringtone called the mosquito that has such a high frequency that only young ears can hear it. This way the teacher has no idea they are receiving a phone call. They then get excused to go to the restroom to use their phone. The worse thing about the phones at school is the text messaging. Instead of listening to what the teacher is talking about they a sneaking their phones out of their purse or pockets and texmessaging during class. Don't think that it is only a few that are doing this. I see in every class that I go in at least 4 or 5 students doing this in each class every hour of the school day. That is not the only problem, they are taking pictures of students and placing them on my space to make fun of. These students are now being labeled as "cyber bullies". Just today we were given information about how rampant this is in the schools. In my opinion, the phones should be allowed at school, but should be put in the lockers at the beginning of school and picked up at the end of school. If found on the child during school on the child, then they should be banned from bringing them on campus again. These kids are also on the phone while driving their cars off campus. I don't care who they are talking to, they are not paying attention and we have accidents every week because of this problem. One more thing, when we have a fire drill or a bomb threat, the first thing some of them do is texmessage their friends. This is one of the ways that a bomb can be set off, (frequency). Teachers are not even allowed to use their phones because of this. Sorry if I went off on this topic, but it affects me every day at school and the kids are laughing at anyone trying to correct their behavior.
They have downloaded a ringtone called the mosquito that has such a high frequency that only young ears can hear it. This way the teacher has no idea they are receiving a phone call. They then get excused to go to the restroom to use their phone. The worse thing about the phones at school is the text messaging. Instead of listening to what the teacher is talking about they a sneaking their phones out of their purse or pockets and texmessaging during class. Don't think that it is only a few that are doing this. I see in every class that I go in at least 4 or 5 students doing this in each class every hour of the school day. That is not the only problem, they are taking pictures of students and placing them on my space to make fun of. These students are now being labeled as "cyber bullies". Just today we were given information about how rampant this is in the schools. In my opinion, the phones should be allowed at school, but should be put in the lockers at the beginning of school and picked up at the end of school. If found on the child during school on the child, then they should be banned from bringing them on campus again. These kids are also on the phone while driving their cars off campus. I don't care who they are talking to, they are not paying attention and we have accidents every week because of this problem. One more thing, when we have a fire drill or a bomb threat, the first thing some of them do is texmessage their friends. This is one of the ways that a bomb can be set off, (frequency). Teachers are not even allowed to use their phones because of this. Sorry if I went off on this topic, but it affects me every day at school and the kids are laughing at anyone trying to correct their behavior.
It all boils down to teaching kids cell phone etiquette and establishing rules and clearly stated consequences. My kids are scared to death of losing their phones and have - for failing to practice phone etiquette. 
Maybe you teach in an area where kids aren't respectful, but we live in a pretty nice area and the schools here have very few disciplinary problems. Our community here is strangely racially and socio-economically insulated...but that's an entirely different topic.
Also, the "mosquito" is way overhyped. I'm 36, my husband is 44, and my parents are both 59, and we can all clearly hear it. 
Also, the "mosquito" is way overhyped. I'm 36, my husband is 44, and my parents are both 59, and we can all clearly hear it.
I am 51 and can barely hear the mosquito. The younger teachers put it on their phones and showed us in the teacher's lounge and basically those that were over 50 could not hear it unless they put it right next to their ear and while doing that there were students from the next room that came and asked to turn the volume down because it was hurting their ears. I saw this with my own eyes or I would not have believed it. We are not a small city and this is happening at most of the high schools in our city. I am glad your area has not had this problem because it is not going to be easily resolved now that phones are being allowed in schools.
Okay, I am totally going to eat my words here.
For grins, I googled "mosquito ringtone" just to listen to it again, and came across this website: http://www.jetcityorange.com/MosquitoRingtone.html
I had my three kids (15, 14, and will-be-13-in-28-days-eek!!) sit on the couch with me, cover their eyes, and I played the 10 second WAV file over and over - pausing and starting it, like musical chairs - where they had to tell me if they heard it or not (I was trying to rule out any trickery ). My almost-13-year-old acted like it really hurt his ears, and my 15 year old complained about it hurting her ears, too, but not as badly as my youngest. My middle child could barely hear it. And I couldn't hear it at ALL!! LOL This was out of a laptop, too.
Maybe the "mosquito ringtone" that my parents, husband, and I heard back when it was hot news wasn't the correct frequency or something, but in any case, I absolutely could not hear ANYTHING while playing that WAV file. Crap, I guess this means I'm old! 
Anyhoo, way off topic - sorry! - but I thought I should correct my previous statement.
It all boils down to teaching kids cell phone etiquette and establishing rules and clearly stated consequences.
I agree with this, BUT - it also boils down to the parents. There are too many parents out there that continue to say NOT MY KID. Their child can do no wrong. Hence, all the cheating that is done in high school/college - and when the child is caught, the parents file lawsuits because it's not fair that their child won't "pass the class".
Parents have become very protective of their children, but some have taken it to the extreme as to be detrimental to others and goes without saying their own child.
Consequences don't work if parents don't grow up and follow through on the punishment.
cakepro, Okay, I am totally going to eat my words here.
Do you have some cake and milk to go along with those words. LOL I never considered myself old until they proved the ringtone to me. I feel like I am on top of what the kids are doing and have fun with them. Now I know what old is suppose to be. LOL
I'm not exactly old im 26 but I can hear the tone just fine even with my speaker turned very low down I will admitt that if i turn my speaker up even half way it hurts my ears and when the speaker was down really low my 3 year old came from the other room where she was happily enjoying dora to ask me what that sound was. I will have to try it when my 7 year old gets home. as far as kids having cell phones i'm still undecieded I think once my children are doing things on there own I.E going to practices or friends house I will want to be able to have constant contact with them my dad on the other hand thinks im crazy as he never had cell phones when I was growning up and I turned out just fine he thinks the younger mothers are all holding on a little to tight and not letting kids grow up but i see no harm in useing whatever is available to protect your children my friend told me just yesterday she and her son communicate through walkie talkie on his way to the bus and back everyday to make sure he arrives safely I think that is a great idea as my son has informed me he is to old at 7 to have his mom walk him to the bus.
I've got to try this with the kids! My guy can't hear it, but it gives me an instant headache. It's about one step up from the frequency power lines give off. It almost feels like a popping in the ears to me. Oh, and I'm 28, he's 33. FWIW the dog didn't react too much, just looked at me funny.
heather - we use walkie talkies all the time, and LOVE them! ds just went to the store last night (3 blocks away) and talked to me the whole time. It's "cool" for him, and he'll talk just so he can use them. There are sooo many uses for them! Camping, hide and seek, teaching responsibility, communicating between vehicles on road trips, etc. One of the best investments we've made.
I'm glad you said you could physically feel the sound of that ringtone, because when I was playing it over and over testing my kids, my ears hurt! I was sure that it was just psychosomatic, though.
I wonder if any of our macaws or sun conure were bothered by it. They didn't say anything. (One of the macaws actually says "Ouch!" from time to time LOL).
~ Sherri
I wonder how loud you should turn up your computer speakers to hear it i just tried it at varying levels with my 7 year old and my 30 year old husband my nethier one of them could hear it until the speaker was almost all the way up I on the other hand got a fresh new headache.
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