To think parents are not teaching any independence?

Most bus passes are phone only these days

Mobile phones have been around since the '90's and smart phones since mid-'00's so entire generations have grown up with them. I think banning phones is rather controlling. People should have them if they want and kids should be taught respectful use at school rather than taking them away.

Are you completely disregarding the increase in knife crime in youths, and the increase in VAWG (violence against women and girls)?

Seems really weird to make an assumation and then try to be rude about it...... I don't recall insinuating or saying it was so important to have a phone back then.

But you never know, maybe I was epileptic or diabetic? Maybe my sister was disabled and I took the bus with her? Who knows? Plenty of reasons to have a phone back then and was completely normal back then

Im in my 40s and we all had phones by Yr11. And used to use them in secret at school as they were supposed to be turned off.

I was at school 20 years ago. I never carried a phone.

Why would you need a phone? If you had an emergency, which would be very rare, the schools had a phone that you could use. Seems really weird to think that a phone is so important.

Gen X parents are so weird.

They must have short memories, because only a few decades ago there were no phones and we seemed to get to school and home again just fine.

Yes, children managed 20 years ago because they had mobile phones then 🤣.... I'm 34, 20 years ago I was 14 and had a phone at school and I was able to ring an adult or elder sister for help if need be

I also don't like going out without my phone, am I not independent either?

I don't take mine unless I'm getting on a train and meeting someone at the other end, so I can let them know if I'm delayed. I don't need it just for going out and about locally.

The safety element is vital in secondary school, especially in the tougher areas. I understand that a lot of mnetter’s wouldn’t get that.

They leave the classroom to use the bathroom - that’s often where they use their phones.
we gave a phone ban, but it’s still out of control.

Is the thread only about phones? And yes, in the 1960s, 70s, 80s there were a LOT of phone boxes and everyone knew how to make a reverse charges call. Times change FFS.

I will never forget being on here saying I was worried about my (then) 18 year old DD and someone came on and posted well if she's dead she's dead there's nothing you can do now. Is that where we are setting the bar?

Children managed 20 years ago, and they’ll manage now.

They don’t need the phone, I don’t understand why the school needs a blanket ban. My DD is not allowed use her phone in school, it’s confiscated for 3 days and enforced. She does not use her phone in school.
Some schools are not setting standards either. It shouldn’t matter if they have to smart phone or a non internet device.

I’ve heard people saying it’s because their kids bus passes are on the phones Tbf.

I also don't like going out without my phone, am I not independent either?

Where do they get the school bus from? Right outside the school and can they phone from the school if necessary?

My dd has a 20 minute walk to the bus stop through an area known for antisocial behaviour. Another hour before she would be due home. I wouldn't like her to not have her phone. They are not allowed phones during school hours which is great.

Ds gets the bus right outside the school and teachers are around if a child misses the bus. He doesn't need a phone.

I had an Emergency Pound for payphone which as soon as my parents gave me/replaced the missing one I would immediately spend it on sweets over and over again. Then make calls to them by reversing the charges.

Wonder if phone boxes depended on the area. There were lots near us, but most families we knew couldn't afford a phone (we were one of them).

Completely agree re. dumb phones. And would 100% support sanctions in school itself e.g. instant detention if phone seen out of bag etc

The best compromise is non-smart phones.

Hopefully thhe new Schools guidance will mean that bus tickets becomme phydical rather than digital. (They are in our area, and they hope them to be free for all U16s in the new future).

People have rose tinted slecs over phone boxes... I had an hour trip to Secondary, the only phone box I passed was outside the school!

Wouldn't you just think he or she had missed the bus?

Yes of course I would know that would be the most likely scenario. But I think that them having a phone on them or not would make a difference. I.e. if they had a phone - oh they're not back yet, maybe something's happened, but if they need help they'll text me. If they didn't have a phone - oh they're not back yet, maybe something's happened, but I have no way of knowing if they need help or not.

We didn't have phones, but there were ample phone boxes and we always had money or a BT card. People seem to forget this. Had a horrible experience walking home from school when I was 12, we'd been followed by a van, a guy leant out and tried to drag my friend in. We ran for the nearest shop and the police were called.
I always made sure my kids had phones. Bad stuff can happen even on a short journey. DD had kids threatening to beat her up, she didn't get off the bus and phoned me to come and get her. There are kids catching the tube home and other trains, what if they need to phone the BTP.

I agree.

Fine to switch phones off at school but I’m not having a school telling me my child can’t have one on the way there and back. They can’t go to a pay phone like we used to. Things have changed. I used to use pay phones all the time to call my parents if I needed them

My kids are very independent, however their bus pass and tickets are on their phone. No phones would be an issue.
Phones have to be switched off and put in bags on school premises, no issue with that.