When I was younger Dad said "you'll get a cell phone when I get a cell phone"

[0388631]

Years? Didn't Apple offer 32 GB up until a year or two ago? Also, what the hell is wrong with parents? I'm not sure how the landscape will be by the time our kids are nearing their teens, but I'd be fine with a phone at 11 or 12, and locked down through one of those parent apps.


Sewing a GPS tracker in their knapsacks might be too much....

 

[eyoungren]

Same, except they didn't exist yet. Pretty sure my father bought one of those Motorolas sometime in the 80s. I used a beeper for a long time before buying a StarTac, and then I can't recall well but I either paid for the service or the gov picked up my tab or I stopped and used a supplied phone until I got out. Motorola flip phones were pretty much the only phones I found usable and well built up until getting into smart phones. Pretty sure I had an Ericcson and a Nokia but they were complete trash. Though some of those Motorolas had shoddy connection issues back when towers were still building expanded. By the end of my contract periods, my phones looked like they'd gone through a war and back. When I was a kid, computers existed in some sense but they were huge and really expensive for the times. Really the only entertainment we had was listening to radio, tv and being outside. Also, those neat educational magazines.


My oldest nephew was in junior high when he was given a cell phone. That seemed iffy to me at the time. Sometimes when we're out, we see kids as young as what I'd assume are fourth graders using iPhones and Androids...

What's fourth grade in the US, age 8 or 9? Just ridiculous IMO.

Though I've held a sat phone for a long time. I'll upgrade when I have to and buy enough minutes just for emergencies when we do long distance road trips and I can't trust Verizon not to mess up. We'd just gotten married and made a trip up to Napa after we'd gotten back from our honeymoon. This was a time when networks were still pretty sketchy. I was asked why I had an ancient looking phone. I explained why, I was told I was being silly. We had a flat tire later that day. No reception on our phones. I still like to bring it up.

Sat phones were a blessing when I worked for Uncle Sam and was assigned a really crappy country to survey. You have no idea how nice it is to call back home when you're in the middle of nowhere in some former Bloc country. It's a beautiful experience to hear a love one's voice. This was about 20 years ago. It wasn't my dime so I and my work partner used it a lot.

My parents got a cellphone some time around the early 90s. Some Motorola model with the red digital LEDs. I used it once or twice to call in sick to work when I was out and needed to.

That would have been around 1993-94 when I was in my early 20s. Didn't get a cellphone myself until late 1999.

Yeah, my son was in junior high when I gave him one. But he had to prove he could take care of it. We had him on a 2GB line with an iPhone 4s 8GB and parental restrictions. Because he did well, he got an SE for his 14th birthday.

My daughter is 9 and in the fourth grade. She has one of our old WiFi only iPhone 5's (5 not 5s) but she is not allowed to take it to school. Strictly verboten. And we have parental restrictions on it.

When I was 14 and in junior high (1984) my focus was on my Commodore 64 and Dungeons and Dragons. Computers and D&D still hasn't changed all these years later. But I got into Bulletin Board Systems and that's what I was running (a BBS) from the time I was 16 to 19.

I got a beeper for a week in 1997 or so and didn't really understand it, nor what I'd gotten into service-wise. The guys at work laughed at me because of that (was I SO important I needed a beeper?!) so back it went.

Now of course, years later, my mom has an iPhone 4 and iMessage and that's a big way she communicates with me, my wife and her grandkids (our kids) - and my sister too.

 

[Krayzkat]

My granny doesn’t have a cell/mobile phone. She doesn’t have access to Internet forums either....

 

[0388631]

My parents got a cellphone some time around the early 90s. Some Motorola model with the red digital LEDs. I used it once or twice to call in sick to work when I was out and needed to.

Oh gosh, I know which one you're talking about. It looked like a small dark gray block. Extension antenna and it looked like a kid's toy at first glance. I never had one of those, but someone in my immediate family did get that and I laughed at them. I thought cell phones would be a fad. That thing was built well. It didn't help that kids toys came out around the same time and looked like it.

Yeah, my son was in junior high when I gave him one. But he had to prove he could take care of it. We had him on a 2GB line with an iPhone 4s 8GB and parental restrictions. Because he did well, he got an SE for his 14th birthday.

Yeah, my nephew was junior high long before smartphones were even being considered apart from Palm and Blackberries. I honestly thought it was the dumbest thing to give a kid a cell phone at that time and at that age. At the end of that year, I went to pick him up and I saw a sea of students using their phone. It was weird to see that at the time. I think the typical phone price was 180-500 at the time. The top end being without contract, otherwise it got knocked down a couple hundred. But still, it was a haven for any thief. Pretty sure it was before GPS was being used in phones and before providers began blacklisting serials from networks.

I got a beeper for a week in 1997 or so and didn't really understand it, nor what I'd gotten into service-wise. The guys at work laughed at me because of that (was I SO important I needed a beeper?!) so back it went.

I had a beeper because at the time I wasn't working for myself but for someone else. It was having to be at one of three locations when needed, and payphones were huge at the time. Cell phones were still way too expensive for the average person. And as @A.Goldberg mentioned in the 4G thread, beepers work regardless. Even got assigned a beeper when working in gov. The last one I had was pretty damn fancy, too. Had an alarm, some kind of note system (I might be wrong), 5 different alarm tones, and about 8 different notice/beep tones.

Beepers were kind of like the Casio digital watches from the 80s. The really fancy ones that cost a ton then, like the Data Bank. Those got dorky really fast in the early 90s. I used a Casio digital before getting more into watches. My other nephew, who's younger, was and still is heavily into Casio G-Shock watches. I think he had about 300 varieties at one time buying, being gifted and trading them. I don't get it...

 

[eyoungren]

Oh gosh, I know which one you're talking about. It looked like a small dark gray block. Extension antenna and it looked like a kid's toy at first glance. I never had one of those, but someone in my immediate family did get that and I laughed at them. I thought cell phones would be a fad. That thing was built well. It didn't help that kids toys came out around the same time and looked like it.



Yeah, my nephew was junior high long before smartphones were even being considered apart from Palm and Blackberries. I honestly thought it was the dumbest thing to give a kid a cell phone at that time and at that age. At the end of that year, I went to pick him up and I saw a sea of students using their phone. It was weird to see that at the time. I think the typical phone price was 180-500 at the time. The top end being without contract, otherwise it got knocked down a couple hundred. But still, it was a haven for any thief. Pretty sure it was before GPS was being used in phones and before providers began blacklisting serials from networks.



I had a beeper because at the time I wasn't working for myself but for someone else. It was having to be at one of three locations when needed, and payphones were huge at the time. Cell phones were still way too expensive for the average person. And as @A.Goldberg mentioned in the 4G thread, beepers work regardless. Even got assigned a beeper when working in gov. The last one I had was pretty damn fancy, too. Had an alarm, some kind of note system (I might be wrong), 5 different alarm tones, and about 8 different notice/beep tones.

Beepers were kind of like the Casio digital watches from the 80s. The really fancy ones that cost a ton then, like the Data Bank. Those got dorky really fast in the early 90s. I used a Casio digital before getting more into watches. My other nephew, who's younger, was and still is heavily into Casio G-Shock watches. I think he had about 300 varieties at one time buying, being gifted and trading them. I don't get it...

I should be clear in that when we got my son the SE, he had earned that privilege.

But we do not and never will have any intention of buying our kids the newest, bestest, greatest iPhone (or other device) just because.

Like many I object to seeing all these kids walking around glued to these expensive, high end phones with UD plans and mommy and daddy are paying the bill.

My son had his plan upgraded and his SE was brand new, but there was no way I was getting him an X, or an 8/8+. Not even a 7 or 7+.

WE don't even have that! My wife has a 6s and I have a 6s+. I was comfortable getting him something equivalent. His choice was my 6s+ or an SE so he chose the SE.

People just give their kids these things because they don't want to be bothered by them. It's a digital nanny. Take it away and the kid starts crying, screaming or bawling their head off - something we did not and do not tolerate.

So, my son earned his device. It wasn't given to him simply because we wanted to ignore him.

Just making that clear.

 

[Tech198]

And to this day he still does not have a cell phone! Thank God I got a job and was able to grow up move out and get one myself. He is able to go through life without a cell phone of ANY kind (of course my mom has one). I on the other hand have to use my phone multiple upon multiple times a day. Anyone know someone that functions perfectly well day to day without a cell phone?

I wish i did....

Wise move today. I would have thought even if we never used a cell phone much, we'd still need one for emergencies...

What happens when u don't have change for a pay phone, or lack of a pay phone?

 

[0388631]

I should be clear in that when we got my son the SE, he had earned that privilege.

But we do not and never will have any intention of buying our kids the newest, bestest, greatest iPhone (or other device) just because.

Like many I object to seeing all these kids walking around glued to these expensive, high end phones with UD plans and mommy and daddy are paying the bill.

My son had his plan upgraded and his SE was brand new, but there was no way I was getting him an X, or an 8/8+. Not even a 7 or 7+.

WE don't even have that! My wife has a 6s and I have a 6s+. I was comfortable getting him something equivalent. His choice was my 6s+ or an SE so he chose the SE.

People just give their kids these things because they don't want to be bothered by them. It's a digital nanny. Take it away and the kid starts crying, screaming or bawling their head off - something we did not and do not tolerate.

So, my son earned his device. It wasn't given to him simply because we wanted to ignore him.

Just making that clear.

Yeah, I get that. Wasn't suggesting you did that.

I think the issue was more that people are worried about their kids. That's kind of why I like Android. There's a wide variety of devices. Samsung makes some really good midrange stuff that costs under $120 at most with an added line. And it's pretty good until kids are older and can be trusted with something more expensive.

Honestly, my opinion? The SE is a really good iPhone if you don't need (keyword there) the crazy new stuff. I was a fan of the 5C, too. And thought that was perfect for kids who weren't old/mature enough to have something more pricey. Though I suppose by that time rolls around, our kids will have their phones implanted into their hands or something like that.

So far our kids really like certain toys, going to the park or playing in the yard, and they seem to prefer nature documentaries than one of those special cartoon educational crap things on YouTube.

 

[hallux]

kids will have their phones implanted into their hands or something like that.

Like they don't already... Yes, I know what you meant, but it seems like they might as well be implanted these days...

 

[eyoungren]

Yeah, I get that. Wasn't suggesting you did that.

I think the issue was more that people are worried about their kids. That's kind of why I like Android. There's a wide variety of devices. Samsung makes some really good midrange stuff that costs under $120 at most with an added line. And it's pretty good until kids are older and can be trusted with something more expensive.

Honestly, my opinion? The SE is a really good iPhone if you don't need (keyword there) the crazy new stuff. I was a fan of the 5C, too. And thought that was perfect for kids who weren't old/mature enough to have something more pricey. Though I suppose by that time rolls around, our kids will have their phones implanted into their hands or something like that.

Oh, sorry! That was NOT directed at you or at anyone specific really. I was just making myself clear to anyone reading.

Nothing personal!

My problem with Android is that I am not very familiar with it. I have an Android crap tablet but it's not, I believe, anything that is representative of what Android is. It's just one of those free tablets my mom got when she got service with Verizon. Nothing special.

So, I wouldn't know where to start as far as parental controls.

Yeah, first my son had an 8GB 4s, then he had my wife's old 64GB iPhone 5. Now he has the SE (64GB). I gave him the option to get the 128GB model, but he would have had to wait for that, so he chose to stick with 64GB because they had it in-store.

He has not complained to me about anything with it so I have to assume it's working for him. He was able to reuse the case he got for the 5 so there was that too.

I'm the only one in the family who does not use cases on my iPhones!
[doublepost=1517270698][/doublepost]

Like they don't already... Yes, I know what you meant, but it seems like they might as well be implanted these days...

That goes back to the digital nanny I mentioned and parents not wanting to bother with their children.

Some parents these days want to be friends with their children and not parents. You see the result of that.

 

[0388631]

With Android you tend to pick it up. I've been with it almost since the beginning. Each version has gotten more complex. Must haves with Android are a primo DropBox account and Amazon Prime so you can upload photos and videos directly. I'm not as involved with phone and computer tech as I once was. It's easy once you start reading recommendation articles. I upgrade every 2-3 years depending on how great the newest Sammy phone is. I've tried iOS, but it's too limiting and features are slow to come by for my tastes.

One of our first whales, and one who's still with us, gifted us with some Apple products that I didn't really find intuitive enough so I gave them away. This was in 07 or 08. Other clients who saw large returns or companies we invested heavily in and made it big, which we still own a portion of have gotten us gifts. Weird concept.

Someone whom I worked with in the 90s and who went on to do his own thing with a few others, and who made a killing on products they invested in that a lot of people used, got autographed surfboards by some world surfing champions or whatever. That has a lot of value. I don't surf, but I'd want that more than some Apple products.

 

[AustinIllini]

My dad always said "If you put the rabbit ears on your head and dance around, you get three more channels"

 

[0388631]

My dad always said "If you put the rabbit ears on your head and dance around, you get three more channels"

I miss those days. Cable was heavily regulated and wasn't worth the money up until 87-88. It was cheap. Price increase when our current ISP rolled into the region. Then they split it with cable and expanded. And then they went digital. Now they're working on new compression algorithms to deliver even higher quality video without using too much bandwidth.

Though not having to see those damn ugly aerials on houses is nice.
[doublepost=1517284554][/doublepost]Though, @AustinIllini, I'm almost confident that traditional cable operators will have to find other methods to make their income as more people turn to online services. You can only artificially hold set bandwidth limits for so long before you raise the ire of your customers. On the other hand, our ISP is doing a sweeping rollout of DOCSIS 3.1 hardware and software on applicable modems with new licensing agreements. They've got some crazy goals in mind, like offering gig service throughout the US by 2020-2021.

It's a whole chain of issues and everyone wants a piece of the pie.

 

[LizKat]

And to this day he still does not have a cell phone! Thank God I got a job and was able to grow up move out and get one myself. He is able to go through life without a cell phone of ANY kind (of course my mom has one). I on the other hand have to use my phone multiple upon multiple times a day. Anyone know someone that functions perfectly well day to day without a cell phone?

People who live and work in dead zones and have land lines, or who are retired and live in such areas. This is the USA and not some wired-up third world country where even every subsistence farmer has a cellphone and can trade his crop at the nearest commodity exchange while standing in the middle of his couple acres of millet or mustard greens or whatever.

At least around here we finally got DSL that has become robust enough to (usually) support cell phone calling via WiFi. That only took about 25 years... still waiting for those long promised cell towers this side of the mountains between here and nearest cities or the interstate.

Every time I craved bacon, I used to think "ah no, just pass it up, you might live long enough to make a cell call from your car out in the boondocks when it breaks down..." Heh. Most of the time now I go ahead and get the bacon. I'll probably surrender my driver's license due to old age before we ever see cell towers around here. The terrain is mountainous for thousands of square miles and there are hundreds of other places like my local area here with its 400 square mile dead zone.

Bottom line I'm not totally hooked on my iPhone. Now laptops or iPads... different story.

 

[eyoungren]

My dad always said "If you put the rabbit ears on your head and dance around, you get three more channels"

I can recall my parents first purchase of a 'modern' RCA color television at Von's Supermarket (back when they sold electronics in store) in 1982.

I remember being on the roof with my dad running the tension wires for the antenna (bought at Radio Shack).

That TV didn't leave the house until the late 90s, even after having water spilled on it (which made the digital channel display intermittent).

The antenna actually made it's journey with my wife and I from my parents house to Phoenix and ultimately ended up going out with the bulk garbage some time in 2005.

 

[BeeGood]

Kids were relatively free of schedule in the past. The advent of helicopter parenting has led to micromanagement, which requires constant communication.

There’s a little bit more to it than that.

We told our kids that they would get cell phones once we needed them to have them. For my son, that started when he began working this past summer (he’s 15). My daughter (13) got one for Christmas becuase she does a lot outside of school.

Both of them were the last kids in their groups of friends to get phones. Most of my daughter’s friends got theirs leaving elementary school.

The problem is that even if you want your kids to be untethered today, it frequently puts them in a slightly socially awkward situation. Also, more and more technology is being used in classrooms (interactive games and eve some assignments require them) and the expectation sometimes seems to be that every student has one.

So even if you wanted to delay plugging your kids into the matrix (like we tried to), it’s getting harder and harder to do so.

 

[bruinsrme]

Personally, I've seldom had the need for one. However, my wife often feels she need to get in touch with me so she demands I have one. And work took away our land lines and moved to all cell phones. So now I carry two phones I don't really want...

Electronic leashes.

 

[eyoungren]

There’s a little bit more to it than that.

We told our kids that they would get cell phones once we needed them to have them. For my son, that started when he began working this past summer (he’s 15). My daughter (13) got one for Christmas becuase she does a lot outside of school.

Both of them were the last kids in their groups of friends to get phones. Most of my daughter’s friends got theirs leaving elementary school.

The problem is that even if you want your kids to be untethered today, it frequently puts them in a slightly socially awkward situation. Also, more and more technology is being used in classrooms (interactive games and eve some assignments require them) and the expectation sometimes seems to be that every student has one.

So even if you wanted to delay plugging your kids into the matrix (like we tried to), it’s getting harder and harder to do so.

My son entered the STEAM program in seventh grade. They issued laptops and all assignments were done (both in seventh and eighth grade) on those computers.

When he entered ninth grade, the new STEAM school he goes to does not require laptops as they supply them in house. Unfortunately, there are not enough to go around and he would be at a disadvantage having to wait his turn or share a laptop.

Hence we got him a Thinkpad with Windows 7 and the apps he needed for school.

I know where I was at 14, 15 and 16 so we have tried to limit the tech outside the house to what's been needed as well as limiting accounts.

He has an iCloud account because of his iPhone, a Cox account to give him email and he uses his Cox account for Google Docs, which is what his previous school and his new school require of him.

A few weeks ago, for productivity, he created a Dropbox account.

But you won't see my son here on MacRumors until he's at least 16 and I know he can handle the social interactions.

The key here isn't control but providing no more than they actually need or can handle.

 

[RobinInOR]

Bottom line I'm not totally hooked on my iPhone. Now laptops or iPads... different story.

I had to look at the name on your post to realize I didn’t post it and not remember lol.... twins, boonies, cell phone service stops 10 miles from home, Verizon WiFi just started working reliably. Too many power outages to depend on cell. My husband had a Tracfone that he used for emergencies - it had about 2000 minutes accumulated since he didn’t use it. I just bought him an SE so he’s getting into the 21st century learning how to call and message his friends.

 

[0388631]

I can recall my parents first purchase of a 'modern' RCA color television at Von's Supermarket (back when they sold electronics in store) in 1982.

I remember being on the roof with my dad running the tension wires for the antenna (bought at Radio Shack).

That TV didn't leave the house until the late 90s, even after having water spilled on it (which made the digital channel display intermittent).

The antenna actually made it's journey with my wife and I from my parents house to Phoenix and ultimately ended up going out with the bulk garbage some time in 2005.

That brings back some vague memories. On the other hand, I remember the open candy or self-dispensing bins of candy you could find in Von's, Pavillions and Kroger back in those days. I think they tore those out in the early 90s and went to prepackaged containers. I have fond memories of sampling candies and picking out just the right amount. I curbed my candy intake a long time ago. However, seafoam toffee is and will always be a huge favorite of mine.
[doublepost=1517356209][/doublepost]

My son entered the STEAM program in seventh grade. They issued laptops and all assignments were done (both in seventh and eighth grade) on those computers.

When he entered ninth grade, the new STEAM school he goes to does not require laptops as they supply them in house. Unfortunately, there are not enough to go around and he would be at a disadvantage having to wait his turn or share a laptop.

Hence we got him a Thinkpad with Windows 7 and the apps he needed for school.

I know where I was at 14, 15 and 16 so we have tried to limit the tech outside the house to what's been needed as well as limiting accounts.

He has an iCloud account because of his iPhone, a Cox account to give him email and he uses his Cox account for Google Docs, which is what his previous school and his new school require of him.

A few weeks ago, for productivity, he created a Dropbox account.

But you won't see my son here on MacRumors until he's at least 16 and I know he can handle the social interactions.

The key here isn't control but providing no more than they actually need or can handle.

Or you just don't want Eyo jr. revealing some of the goofy stuff you do? Is STEAM something like gifted and talented in other states? I think tech is going to be more involved in education when younger nieces and nephews are well into grade school to middle school/junior high. But by the time the oldest of the youngest, as mentioned previously, finished high school, there was still some time before tech really got into everything. This was less than 10 years ago. From 2011 to today, there's been a lot of new stuff and a lot of evolution.

 

[eyoungren]

It STEAM something like gifted and talented in other states?

STEAM is short for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics.

You may know it as STEM. The A was added, in our area at least, within the last two years.

In order to get into the STEAM (or STEM) program you must either be in the gifted program (my son test into that in 6th grade) or undergo testing. You must have high enough grades and you must maintain high grades to remain in the program.

In the school my son started the program in there is no guarantee you will return year to year. There is a waiting list to get in and you must be invited back (based on your grades and behavior) to continue. You can reapply I suppose, but they know you so your chances might not be good.

My son was a jerk to his teachers and classmates the first year so being invited to return was a lucky thing for him as he still had one teacher who believed in him. Thankfully he managed to get his crap in order and did a 180º from his previous attitude.

We (my wife and I) are very fortunate that these programs started right around the time he became eligible for them. The situation he and his sister were in at their former charter school was not good (they forgot him on the bus one day) and so pulling him from that school opened these opportunities up to him because they were not available at that school.

 

[AustinIllini]

My dad always used to say "Get off the internet, I have to use the phone"

 

[0388631]

STEAM is short for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics.

You may know it as STEM. The A was added, in our area at least, within the last two years.

In order to get into the STEAM (or STEM) program you must either be in the gifted program (my son test into that in 6th grade) or undergo testing. You must have high enough grades and you must maintain high grades to remain in the program.

In the school my son started the program in there is no guarantee you will return year to year. There is a waiting list to get in and you must be invited back (based on your grades and behavior) to continue. You can reapply I suppose, but they know you so your chances might not be good.

My son was a jerk to his teachers and classmates the first year so being invited to return was a lucky thing for him as he still had one teacher who believed in him. Thankfully he managed to get his crap in order and did a 180º from his previous attitude.

We (my wife and I) are very fortunate that these programs started right around the time he became eligible for them. The situation he and his sister were in at their former charter school was not good (they forgot him on the bus one day) and so pulling him from that school opened these opportunities up to him because they were not available at that school.

Yeah, sounds like a step up from what I remember being discussed in a televised town hall meeting years ago. Does your son's program also include robotics and that kind of tech? Our available school district is very good, but no decent sports programs or ones that do really well. That's if the kids want to get into sports. There isn't much of a choice around us except for one district but I'm not liking the current and future projected atmosphere. The time from now until high school is a long stretch. I'd personally look at schools with high scores, student satisfaction and rolling enrollment into higher classes. Though today's public and private assessment rankings may change a lot by then.

Having to be invited back each year based on performance isn't a bad idea. Which is something we can agree with. It keeps kids on their feet, pushing for the best. Plus, it gives other kids a chance at the program, too.

Arguably the best school is the Gunn school in the state. But if you recall, that place has a huge stigma because of their student depression rate and how they covered things up. When the US government starts poking around, you know something fishy is up.

 

[eyoungren]

Yeah, sounds like a step up from what I remember being discussed in a televised town hall meeting years ago. Does your son's program also include robotics and that kind of tech? Our available school district is very good, but no decent sports programs or ones that do really well. That's if the kids want to get into sports. There isn't much of a choice around us except for one district but I'm not liking the current and future projected atmosphere. The time from now until high school is a long stretch. I'd personally look at schools with high scores, student satisfaction and rolling enrollment into higher classes. Though today's public and private assessment rankings may change a lot by then.

Having to be invited back each year based on performance isn't a bad idea. Which is something we can agree with. It keeps kids on their feet, pushing for the best. Plus, it gives other kids a chance at the program, too.

Arguably the best school is the Gunn school in the state. But if you recall, that place has a huge stigma because of their student depression rate and how they covered things up. When the US government starts poking around, you know something fishy is up.

Yes, robotics, engineering, medical technology, science, etc.

The school partnered with the Mayo Clinic to get the funding to build the school.

Consequently, the science/medical labs on the second floor are certified at the level the Mayo Clinic requires and are to be available for the use of Mayo Clinic staffers should they need them.

Don't want to sound as if I am bragging (I am…slightly) but thats a fact about the school. The school itself is in the Roosevelt School District, traditionally a more challenged (due to low income) school district in Phoenix. The idea was to provide a technological school within the district. Hence, it is a public school and paid for by taxpayers and private/corporate funding.

 

[0388631]

Yes, robotics, engineering, medical technology, science, etc.

The school partnered with the Mayo Clinic to get the funding to build the school.

Consequently, the science/medical labs on the second floor are certified at the level the Mayo Clinic requires and are to be available for the use of Mayo Clinic staffers should they need them.

Don't want to sound as if I am bragging (I am…slightly) but thats a fact about the school. The school itself is in the Roosevelt School District, traditionally a more challenged (due to low income) school district in Phoenix. The idea was to provide a technological school within the district. Hence, it is a public school and paid for by taxpayers and private/corporate funding.

That actually sounds pretty damn awesome. I think the only school that does it around us is probably CDMHS. I'm sure there's more but if it doesn't show up in the LA Times, I wouldn't know about it. Yours sounds more biotech related, which is better than just making robots that bash each other.

MCHS isn't a bad place. Decent traditional sciences program. But a large amount of their students are celebs' kids and that's too much degeneracy for me.

 

[0002378]

Years? Didn't Apple offer 32 GB up until a year or two ago? Also, what the hell is wrong with parents? I'm not sure how the landscape will be by the time our kids are nearing their teens, but I'd be fine with a phone at 11 or 12, and locked down through one of those parent apps.


Sewing a GPS tracker in their knapsacks might be too much....

I'd hand my kids a 2000s flip phone with data/texting entirely disabled. If "emergency contact" is really the reason for having the phone, then voice (calling) should do just fine. No need for Angry Birds or Farcebook.

No need for micromanaging when there is nothing to manage.

Think one of these: