My 2 Cents: Middle Schoolers Getting Cell Phones

By Kelly Ogle, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- I've never been a fan of cell phones in school, but I have to admit, I'm curious to see how it goes Friday when 1,500 Oklahoma City middle schoolers are given cell phones as part of an education experiment.

A Harvard Professor is working with Samsung which is providing the phones, and TracFone who is providing the service to see if cell phones can motivate students to do better in school.

Friday the 6th and 7th graders who have their parents permission, will be given cell phones and 200 minutes talk time or the equivalent number of text messages.

If you know teenagers, you know that's not going to last long, and that's the idea.

For the next nine months, they'll be able to earn more phone time by improving their reading scores on the district's Accelerated Reader computer program.

The Harvard professor is trying to develop new ideas to motivate American students, and it'll be interesting to see if the scores increase.

Other's say it's simple bribery and won't work long term.

I'd say my greatest concern is what happens at the end of the nine month trial. Samsung let's the kids keep the phones, but it'll be up to mom and dad whether they continue the service.

And after nine months on the line, good luck cutting them off.

Leave Kelly Your 2 Cents, tell us where you're from, and he could read your comments on air.