<p>I visited the schools that DS applied. </p>
<p>Was surprised to see there is no cell phone policy at any schools. </p>
<p>Anyone know how most of the BS do?</p>
<p>Any regulation or policy?</p>
<p>School policies are usually found in the school’s handbook. Many handbooks may be found on school websites. Dorm heads may also set policies for each dorm. Study hall times, lights out times, permission for “late lights,” etc. </p>
<p>Many boarding school students receive texts from teachers as well as friends. Forbidding cell phones would cut off access to a convenient message system. Students are encouraged to use good judgement in cell phone use, which may not always work. </p>
<p>Everything may vary by school, so check school policies. </p>
<p>Do you mean outright bans on cell phones, as found in the New York City public school system?</p>
<p>Just about every school I know of has some kind of policy. Are you sure? Maybe your son deliberately sought out the 5 schools out of 500 that have no policy???</p>
<p>At my daughter’s school the policy is no cell phone use in public locations. Of course there are times such as study hours when they are not allowed either (I think; DD is apparently the only teenage girl on earth who does not regularly text or use her cell.). I’ve seen policies in a number of school handbooks, which can usually be found either on the school’s website or by Googling.</p>
<p>Now I notice that you asked specifically about BS dorms, where there is probably great freedom. Still, I think the school’s policy would address this. Use of technology came up at DD’s school during Parents Weekend. It’'s a thorny issue now that everybody everywhere pretty much has online access 24/7. Her school used to be proud that it did not have TV but now the kids can watch whatever they want on their laptops.</p>
<p>If they restrict cell phone use, how do they keep someone from Skyping or chatting? I AM glad that at DD’s school kids are not walking around with phones glued to their ears.</p>
<p>Some, maybe a lot of, schools shut off the wifi at night and at least one school has no wifi in the dorm rooms.</p>
<p>What is your specific concern?</p>
<p>At my DD’s school they’re asked to refrain from using cell phones around the campus. They can use them in their rooms. Also, until recently the reception was terrible (protracted fussing over cell tower location) so that kept phone use way down on its own.</p>
<p>Of all the boarding schools I think Hotchkiss got it right. They have (or arranged to have?) such poor cell phone service on their campus that you can really only utilize cell phones in certain designated areas. Land lines are in most dorm rooms.</p>
<p>Choate keeps my kid so busy, he doesn’t have time to use his phone. Yeah, that’s why I don’t hear from him. I’m sure that’s it.</p>
<p>Like Hotchkiss, reception on campus is not very good and was almost non-existent in his dorm room last year. Our calls kept dropping based on where DS was pacing or which window he was hanging out of.</p>
<p>As for policy, cell phone usage is not allowed during study hours or past certain evening hours (varies by grade) or in certain locations: theaters, chapel, crossing the street, exams, detention, classrooms, dining hall, etc. The policy gets even more detailed now that all the kids have iPads and extends to all the ways electronic devices can cause disturbances with their sounds, cameras, etc. The basic gist of the policy, though, is to promote courtesy, avoid disturbances, and not interfere with studies.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who gave opinions here. </p>
<p>My concern was that at some schools there seemed no guidelines or policies whatsoever regarding the use of cell phones at dorm or on campus. I am not saying that the schools should have very stringent policies. I found many cases of teenagers playing too much games in the cell phones day and night. And if no one does anything on it, it could be a problem. Yes they may be so busy with workload at BS that they may not have time for it. I would rather wish they have enough time for relax and fun but not play phone or internet games.</p>