children and cell phones

Today society dictates that young adults and teenagers should "flaunt it if you got it." Well this young adult (if I am still considered that) does not nor will I ever follow the trends that the "experts" dictate, especially if it means, "flaunting"

Growing up in the middle class residence in Crawfordsville meant that I still had the "fear of God" instilled in me.

My mom told me once that if I ever snuck out, then God would tell her and she would know and there was nothing that would stop her from grounding me until I was 30. Needless to say, her threat worked and I never snuck out of the house.

When school season approached and the magazines came out with the latest fashions, we would make a special trip to the store to buy clothes that were still fashionable, yet something that my parents wouldn't forbid me to leave the house in.

And still there is one fashion trend that I do not understand, children having cell phones. I will admit, I had a cell phone in college, and my younger brother and sister had them in high school. It was just simpler for my parents to get a "family plan" when they had three children that were so involved in sports and clubs.

My parents taught us how to be safe with them, not driving and talking on the phone. They always told us that it was OK to pull the car over and call the person back. I didn't even listen to music while I was driving until I was 18. We were always taught, "it is better to be safe than sorry"

So, would somebody explain to me why elementary students have cell phones? Yes parents, cell phones are now considered a fashion statement.

Maybe it is because of how I was raised, but I never went anywhere without my parents knowing exactly where I was, who I was with and how long I would be gone. They almost always took me to my friend's house if it wasn't just across the street. And they always picked me up. That was just how things were and how I will be if someday I have children.

Now as I have gotten older and more involved it has become clear that a cell phone was and is necessary, but an elementary student?

I don't know, maybe it is because of how my parents raised me, or it could just be how I look at things, but I don't see how a child could need one.