There’s this whole thing going on in the NYC School system, where parents want their kids to have cell phones in case of emergencies, and say it’s a security threat that the school wants to ban cell phones from school.  The schools argue that cell phones increase distraction and cheating.  Here’s one article on the subject.  Here’s an article from last month describing a lawsuit that parents are bringing against the school, and this is an excerpt from that article:

“[The lead lawyer said that] the cell-phone policy, in effect since 1988, is illegal and unconstitutional because it interferes with parents’ rights to oversee their children’s safety.”

Here’s my position:  I don’t care which side is “RIGHT” or “WRONG” - My take on it, is that there is a solution which can equally and directly solve both parties complaints.  I have called the school board to try and offer this advice, but never got a reply back from anyone.

Here it is:  There are cell phones which are designed specifically for parents to give to their children.  It has roughly four programmable speed dial buttons, and NO DIAL PAD.  The point?  The phone can ONLY call the four numbers which mom and dad have programmed into it.

Why is this solution so simple?  It absolutely, 100% addresses the parents’ concern over security and ability to communicate with their children, while at the same time absolutely, 100% prevents students from sending text messages back and forth to each other.

Here is one such example:  The Verizon Migo - I’m sure other carriers have similar solutions.

Folks:  Just agree to make these phones the only ones allowed in school, and we can all get on with our lives, stop clogging up our airwaves with the complaints, stop wasting tax dollars defending this lawsuit, we have a solution at our fingertips, lets use it.