I was going to post this in the parents section but then I wanted to get feedback from students as well. Does a kid really need a phone at boarding school? Even more specifically, a smart phone? My kid is on the phone 24/7 it seems. Not technically? It is not permitted in the bedroom over night. Mostly listens to music, plays a few games or texts friends but it is a third hand. I would live to go cold turkey. Kind of like s smoker going on a voyage to the rainforest. LOL.
Thoughts?
Does a kid need a smart phone? Definitely not but most teens would tell you differently. 
SPS used to have land line numbers to each student in the dorm rooms but recently announced they are doing away with them (lack of use these days), so a cell phone would come in handy for calls home, etc. but a smart phone is not needed. One of my kids remarked on how little BS kids used their cell phones relative to the kids at the LPS.
I would also love to have MY KIDS to go cold turkey but that is definitely not going to happen.
“I” would also love MY kids to learn to cook, do laundry, start planning career and retirement and many other things.
DS1 (at local public school) does not have a smartphone and does not want one.
His unsmart phone is mostly off (aggravating me mostly because I cannot reach him) except when he needs to call/text me.
However, his Ipod/Ipad is part of his body and he texts/facetime/skype/listens music/plays game so he does not feel the need for a smartphone.
@payn4ward I am so frustrated!!!
At my school, cell phones are required. They use phones to give out campus wide alerts, and teachers also have phone numbers of their students (so if a student sleeps through a class, they can give a courtesy call). Most students have a smart phone, but I do not, and it seems to work out fine. Overall, yes, bring a cell phone, but a smart phone isn’t necessary (but it is more convenient if you can afford it).
My husband actually had to go into the restrooms yesterday at Deerfield to text our son at home about school. There is really a no phones visible policy there and they specifically mentioned it at the opening session.
Thanks @MAandMEmom . @waterpololover what school do you attend?
A smart phone may not be “necessary” but life without one will exclude your kid from much of the social interaction at most schools. Instagram, in particular, is used by most kids and there are frequent posts of school life. I say, go ahead and try (you know your kid best), but be prepared for having one to be an important part of life at school. This is the way most kids today communicate. Many schools also allow the kids to “sign out” by texting the administrator on duty- so whatever phone you have should allow texting.
You may also want to consider that, even if the school still has landlines for the kids to use, their locations are rarely private. This makes for difficult conversations (especially in the case of the kid needing parental comfort and advice). An added bonus of smartphones for parents: Facetime/Skype.
While I sympathize with your desire for everyone to “unplug”, the way of the world has changed… and smartphone usage (for better or for worse) is here to stay.
One of the reasons we leaned more towards one is how study hall is dealt with in the evening. For the first 90 minutes, it is required to leave phones outside of the room.
The dorm parent can then walk around to ensure that actual homework is being focused on as opposed to social media.
@london203 thanks. Very helpful.
I expect a lot of social activity is coordinated via texting, too.
@Center I attend Exeter. To address other points made, I use my iPad heavily to make up for the fact that I don’t have a smart phone. iPads are also required at Exeter.
For our older child, the boarding school’s college counselor recommended the students have smart phones. She could send them emails with alerts about upcoming college rep visits. Schools’ policies about cell phone use vary. The best thing to do is to ask currently enrolled students.
100% agree with London 203. We were reluctant to send our son with his smart phone; his school requires iPads for every student - we didn’t see a need for a phone. We have always been very strict with “screen time” and with social media. But the AO and his coach both encouraged us to send him with his, as it really is a social lifeline for the kids. On his iPad he does his school work and accesses the school’s homework, assignment, counseling, scheduling, etc systems. On his iPhone, he does everything else. The kids text, share photos, tweet, and - most importantly, text and Facetime with mom/dad/little sister. That said, we’ve had several hard conversations about data use, cloud storage, and bypassing the school’s wifi filters… that part still makes me uncomfortable. Still, we understand now why we were encouraged to send one, and agree that it helped his social entry into the school community. We will return to our strict family rules when he comes home this summer.
My D attends a BS where one cannot visibly use cell phones. She has only a prepaid cheap Windows phone (necessary to have something when traveling).
At school she manages with her iPod touch. The whole campus has wifi. She has an app for texting, which she uses to coordinate meeting friends at dining hall, etc. She uses her laptop for video calling. All the kids have laptops all the time (iPads not required, most kids have Mac laptops but D is happy with her cheap Windows laptop.)
The monthly cost of phone service would have been a burden for us with very little additional benefit. I told her we would get her a good smartphone and data service when she goes to college.
Smartphone is absolutely necessary. It’s 2016 man, everything is so dependent on smartphones. If you’re afraid of wrong usage, why not educate your child on proper usage? That would be a better idea which will help your child for life.
I would strongly discourage you from not allowing your child a smartphone. Could be your worst decision. If he doesn’t get a smartphone, believe me he’ll find other ways to stay in touch or may be even get one from somewhere. Why? Because smartphones are a necessity and not having it, is like living in, what. 2010 may be?
Even 2010 would be an understatement.
I don’t know if you get sympathy… most parents on this board attended high school before the internet.
My dd’s smart phone is very handy because conversations on cell phones are restricted to just a few spots and few hours on campus but texting is more widely tolerated, and its the way we have always communicated with each other so it works for us. That said, there are apps for that, but ability to text is pretty crucial for our family. Also all homework, message boards etc for school are accessed via wifi.
My younger daughter at home really struggles with phone limits, however, when she loses phone privileges, she is savvy enough to find work arounds on her lap top etc. so not sure the actual device matters - the access is there regardless sadly. We had a no screens during the week rule for most of elementary and then we caved, and yes we are sorry…
Many schools, like my kids’, have pretty spotty cell reception.