Our school system came up with a good compromise, the cell phones are not allowed to be on during school. Students quickly learn to remember to turn them off or leave them in their car. This makes parents feel better about after school activities, and their child driving, knowing their child has a cell phone with them. They tried banning them altogether, but got too much backlash from the parents.  I have also found that students with very poor memories (like severe ADHD, etc.) do well with cell phones because they have all their parent phone numbers programmed in. If they have to stay after school to make up work, and the number I have for the parent's work is an old one, they whip out their cell phone and tell me the right number.  In addition, they are so forgetful, that I don't think the parents could stand it if they didn't know they could call them when they weren't where they were supposed to be. Very few students abuse the cell phone policy. It appears to work well.  As a parent, I am very glad my son carries one with him as well.  

I don't mind them. My daughter is 12. She has a cellphone, but is very closely monitored with it. Her school doesn't ban them, but they are to be off when on campus. If there is trouble at school, then she is allowed to turn it on to call me. As the school has my work and cellphone, but many of the schools in my area for some reason has blocked numbers it's hard to know who is calling and my work phone doesn't take private calls (company phone system). She's not allowed to go on the internet on her phone (no net access). She doesn't have the password to access the service provider on the net (home computer) to put on ringtones/horoscopes etc. She calls me to let me know she makes it to school (she rides her bike or skates) then the phone is off. If I need to let her know I'm late home from work (I'm usually home before she is on a good day) I'll call and leave her a message so when school is out she hears it. She also has no text capabilities on her phone. So, <shrug>, I have no real qualms with them. As long as we teach them the responsibilities that come with them. I'm ok.