Responsible Text Messaging Tips

Before given a cell phone, kids need to be told about texting etiquette. There's a new form of exclusion that seems to be happening frequently among the older girls in our school. Particularly the ones who have cell phones. It seems that they are brought to parties and then those with the hot cool phones text each other leaving the other girl(s) out. Sometimes girls without phones are ridiculed and I’ve heard one story of a girl being brought to tears. Most of the texting goes on with the receiver sitting in the same room. I know they are usually not allowed in school, but exclusion is a form of bullying and this is just a different form of it. Parties and other social gatherings (as well as lectures and meetings) are for face-to-face interactions and not texting.