If Weiner Cannot Control Himself...

I just heard that a local junior high school has an issue with students using cell phones with cameras. Twelve and thirteen year olds are sexting on their cell phones. This is not a surprise, as we have all heard about it before, but at some point, it is excessive and dangerous to those involved. Children are taking pictures of their body parts and sending them to other students. They usually don’t show their faces, so they get into a comfort zone, thinking that they cannot be identified, and have a false sense of security.
My question is, “Do children really need a cell phone with a camera built in?” Parents are allowed to say “no” to their children. If children beg their parents for a camera phone because all their friends have one, well, parents should consider how much trouble peer pressure can get a child into. Not all children have the common sense or enough self esteem to say “no” themselves when it comes to taking and sending explicit or inappropriate pictures. I wouldn’t care if my child said he/she would pay for the phone himself. It is the parent who has to make the final decision.
Children do not realize the consequences of their actions. An innocent snap shot can lead to a dare to take more photos. Eventually, a sexual predator can get their hands on these photos, and of course there are web-sites that weirdos use, where the whole world can see the photos.
I don’t see a necessity for a student to have a cell phone on school property. Children need to concentrate on their classes, there are enough distractions for a teenager to deal with. In case of an emergency, a student could use the school’s or teacher’s phone. One of the high school team’s coach has a phone available to students if they need it. There are no excuses for needing a phone in school during classes. If a parent feels that there is a need for their child to carry a phone, have them carry it discreetly, and have it turned off. Children should not be checking their phone messages and texting during classes, and teachers should have the authority to confiscate the phone if used during school hours. Many private and parochial schools practice this.
A child who wants to take a picture should use a conventional camera, not a cell phone camera. They can download the digital pictures to their computer, giving them more time to see the pictures and time to think about what they are doing. They might not be as ready to put their picture on Facebook as they might impulsively click the send button on their cell phone.
If a Congressman cannot control himself from sending pictures of his private parts to women, how can you expect your child to practice the same self control? It only takes one moment of poor judgment.