To think student mobiles shouldn't be allowed in schools.

[Trebla]

I'm looking for perspectives here. Knowing how addictive and alluring screens can be, how they can change behaviour, reduce focus and create distraction away from real human connection with the people right next to you. Am I being unreasonable to be surprised that its is only just becoming a thing that phones are being banned in schools? AIBU to be surprised they were ever allowed in the first place. I'm not anti tech or screens for educational purposes, but adolescents are notorious for pushing boundaries and not being able to regulate their behaviour consistently (and most adults) that I feel it's highly appropriate that this boundary is set on their behalf to facilitate prescence, social connection and learning in school. Am I missing something?

Yep, phones have been part of school life for at least 10 years. This is like railing against televisions, the internet, newspapers back in the day. This is how young people consume information and manage their lives. In university now we get them to carry out research on their phones, respond to questionnaires etc. Young people need support to make sure they use them in the best way, but trying to stop them now is a bit pointless.

Them being banned in schools isn’t a new thing.

However most sensible schools will just have a “if we see it your in trouble” policy rather than an outright ban on them on site.

Some are also starting to use them for things like communicating and storing homework and other messages which makes sense

I have no issue with tech, just phones. We are seeing higher levels of mental distress and I think that actually it ought be appropriate to provide a phone free learning space so they can focus on the primary task of socializing and learning with their peers. They have just started doing it in a few schools by me and the impact on subjective reports on mental health and wellbeing is astonishing. Children being children again. Communicating face to face, meeting their need for human connection and feeling relief at not having to be 'available'.

Ours is a rural Secondary School. Most children are bused in, picked up and the lucky few are a near enough to walk. Mobile phones I'm afraid are pretty essential in parental/child communications (eg After school Drama rehearsals aren't on today - this happened to me this week).

They're not allowed to have them out in class unless specifically directed by the teacher. They get an official behaviour warning if found one in class. They're also not allowed them at break or lunch. However the school are realistic in that they know all children have them.

To be honest, most children abide by this general rule. Most social media activity is after school.

Mobile phones are here to stay. They are a part of young people's lives. I'm 47 and they're certainly a huge part of mine! I'm self employed and expected to be available to answer emails etc at most times.

At my DCs schools phones are often incorporated into the actual learning. Both have apps for homework and communication throughout the school - so things like room changes, extra curricular meetings etc will be posted on the app. They are allowed to use them in class for taking pictures of notes on the board etc. Use them in science for timers, photos, etc. Used in art/design for photos, films etc. Used in languages for interactive quizzes.

I think we are way past hte point of banning them. Children need to be taught how to manage their usage.

As above. My (primary) kids dont have a phone, but the day the school bus crashed, I was very pleased to get a message from a secondary mum, whose child had messaged them, to say what had happened.
I used to have 10p wrapped up in paper, with my parents work phone numbers written on - but then there were several pay phones in places I may (and did) use them.

In school time, away in bags, but for kids making their own way to school, they can be very beneficial.

Yep I run my business through my phone mainly, but then I also had a tech free childhood and spent time with my peers. I'm considering getting my boys a watch that they can text me on for emergencies but I dont think a phone is essential.fkr learning and actually is proving to be a distraction. I don't think teenagers actually need them and they cause more harm than bring benefits in school. Just because we have them available doesn't mean they should be used. But I'm aware I may be missing something? I actually feel they are detrimental to wellbeing and learning.

I don’t understand who ever thought it was a good idea for children under 16 to have phones to start with. Awful things. And it is common sense that they shouldn’t be allowed at school.

At my DCs schools phones are often incorporated into the actual learning. Both have apps for homework and communication throughout the school - so things like room changes, extra curricular meetings etc will be posted on the app. They are allowed to use them in class for taking pictures of notes on the board etc. Use them in science for timers, photos, etc. Used in art/design for photos, films etc. Used in languages for interactive quizzes

This makes most sense, but what about the kids with the crap phones? Or those who can't afford them. I agree we should be teaching self regualation around usage but that's hard for adults to do. I still feel the developing brain needs a break from the constant draw to "another place" that is omnipresent through mobile usage. Not being able to sit through boredom also.

I don’t understand who ever thought it was a good idea for children under 16 to have phones to start with. Awful things. And it is common sense that they shouldn’t be allowed at school

This is where I lean towards too. Just because we can doesnt mean we should. There is a difference between what is normal and what is actually better.

Football practice was cancelled yesterday after school. Kids found out when they got an email from the coach at 2pm to say go straight home, and parents got the same message. If they hadn’t got the email, many would have gone to training only to find it cancelled and then missed their bus (it’s a contract). Also all their homework, additional notes etc are sent to their school account, mostly accessed via their phones, and sometimes they are asked to check it in class.

Kids are good in ds’s school, they only get them out at break and lunch, and kept in their bags, so school has not had to put a school ban on them.

Our high school has a blocker. No phones work inside but can be used in car park.

Kids are good in ds’s school, they only get them out at break and lunch, and kept in their bags, so school has not had to put a school ban on them

But this is when they should be connecting and interacting in real life with each other?

Also shit school communication is not a reason. Although I understand this point.

Our high school has a blocker. No phones work inside but can be used in car park

I like this. I fear I'm a luddite.

Yep I run my business through my phone mainly, but then I also had a tech free childhood and spent time with my peers.

My dd is 14. She spends plenty of time face to face with her peers.

When I was 14, my dad used to complain that I'd come home from school and spent most of the evening (after 6pm!) talking to my best friends on the phone in hallway. We'd spent all day together and he could understand what we needed to talk about.

So far, my dd has a healthy relationship with SM. She mainly uses it for messaging, group chats about music or homework and follows behind the scenes of Avengers films on Instagram. We talk a lot about SM and it's fairness and downsides.

My nieces are all in the early 20's and late teens. They're really stable, relatively happy, employed/studying people. They all used phones and SM and found it all quite positive.

Our school doesn't have a blocker but has a rule of no phones at break or lunch. Pretty much all kids stick to it.

DD’s school has a “not on between 9 and 3.30 policy”

That is also fluid if they’re needed in lessons.

Works very well.

I guess for me it's the constant allure. The boredom solver in your pocket. The dopamine hit that pulls you away from really life connections and experiences at the swipe of a finger.

@millicentbystander72 you seem to have the ideal. Nice work.

DC's School allows phones and I don't really care as it doesn't affect them in any way.

DD uses hers all the time DS never uses it and barely remembers to charge it because he talks to his friends whereas DD talks to hers whilst they are all on their phones, she has a much bigger network of friends than DS who just doesn't care about that side of things ie instagram etc.
My DC are 12 and 13 and I think it's a neccessary form of communication esp when I need to contact them about something or other.

They were banned at my school (2006-2011)

I know people buying phones for their 5 year olds. Bloody shocking.

My DC phones certainly do not stop them from having real life connections. I find it creates more connections by far esp as DD who's on her phone a lot has far more connections with friends than DS who never uses his so has a very small circle of friends.
I don't see it as a boredom solver at all it's just something we all have in our lives it's completely normal and I have no issues with it.

I don't get this urge to ban technology like that. By all means, have a ban during the school day but banning children from having them in the first place...I don't know.

Like a PP, we live rurally and mobiles are pretty important for obvious reasons. Children live miles from the school and need to be able to contact their parents if something goes wrong - eg. the bus breaks down or they miss the bus, or a club is cancelled and they need a lift instead.

I think banning phones is a draconian act and doesn't actually solve anything. Outright bans seem to be the reserve of people who cannot implement sensible controls.

Children live miles from the school and need to be able to contact their parents if something goes wrong - eg. the bus breaks down or they miss the bus, or a club is cancelled and they need a lift instead.

A Nokia brick will sort that, though, won’t it? That’s not what children want iPhones for.

I think banning phones is a draconian act and doesn't actually solve anything. Outright bans seem to be the reserve of people who cannot implement sensible controls.

Or who don’t want to have to? I have no desire to spend my time on the issue. I just won’t buy one, and no need to implement controls.

A Nokia brick will sort that, though, won’t it? That’s not what children want iPhones for.

Sure, but I never mentioned smartphones, just phones in general. The OP is speaking about banning all phones, presumably that includes brick phones with no web access.