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?

They introduced a ban in my kids school this year, unless directed to use it during a class. The main point is to eliminate phone usage during lunch and breaks in order to increase real social interaction.

I do think phones cause major problems for everyone, but particularly young people who have grown up with them. The 24/7 interaction reduces their ability to socialise and interact with their peers on a face to face basis.

I'm a university lecturer and I see the impact of phone usage on our students' mental health and social life. When I teach a double lecture, I give them a break of 10 minutes in the middle. Back in the old days, students would use this time to chat. Now they're all on their phones, with occasional interaction with the person beside them. First years, in the old days, at the start of the year, used to sit down and maybe try and start a conversation with the person beside them to try and get to know people. The shyer ones mightn't initiate a conversation, but if they were sitting near someone else, they were likely to end up conversing.

Now, they get their phones out. This acts as a barrier so the new person sitting beside you is unlikely to start speaking to you. We now have students going through their full degree without getting to know anyone in their class. And we wonder why rates of depression and anxiety are so high.

adaline

I think she is mostly talking about smart phones.

OP?

My daughters school hasnt banned them.

But they to be neither seen nor heard on school grounds. Not at breaks.

I dont think it needs to go further than that. Tbh.

Smart phone with web access

Now, they get their phones out. This acts as a barrier so the new person sitting beside you is unlikely to start speaking to you. We now have students going through their full degree without getting to know anyone in their class. And we wonder why rates of depression and anxiety are so high

This ^^

Why can't they have them in their pockets or bags but switched off? It doesn't do any harm, and means that students who need them for whatever reason outside of school aren't being punished.

I don’t think they should be banned entirely because many students live up to an hour away from school and navigate their own way home. I do think they should be switched off and kept in their bag unless it’s break/lunchtime.

It shouldn't be universal ime. Some schools manage to have students with phones with no issues at all. DD's school never had any issues.

The most recent studies have found that actually tablet and phone use has little negative effect on children and teens. Not to say some don't have issues but it's not quite as widespread as people have thought.

I wonder what impact have unfettered access to a digital platform has on a developing brain. I also question why adolescents need to be in constant contact with their parents. A key developmental task at this age is separation and autonomy. There are so many ramifications for resilience and wellbeing. I think having designated times we are 'detoxed' from them is actually healthy.

They can't be banned in my kids school because they are expected to use their phones for research in class and to take photos of homework assignments to save on printing costs.

I hate the fact the school is so hard up they can't afford to buy enough computers or print homework but that's solely down to the pathetic useless head teacher who can't keep staff for longer than a couple of months because they are expected to teach every subject every day as opposed to just when there is illness. My sons art classes have been swapped for extra music classes because they don't have enough teachers for the next school year.

My recently turned 11 year old has a phone. Fairly basic smart phone but if she uses up the Internet data before the month is up then she can't get online. So she uses it to text or call me (usually to ask if she can go to her friends house), photos and listening to music on headphones. She finds a lot of noise overwhelming - especially public transport so her music helps her relax. It's made a lot of journeys we do much calmer. Even if she had a basic nokia brick she would then want a mp3 player for the music and a camera for photos (because people like to take photos of things). I much prefer 1 gadget to 3 separate ones. I don't have a problem with it. Her new secondary school has a 'switched off at bottom of the bag/no see or hear' which sounds sensible. She is going to have to take a noisy bus so she will need her music to keep her calm.

Phones were technically banned many years ago too but there's a keep it hidden unofficial policy as they don't have the facilities to store 1500 phones and parents want them to have one for the bus

If parents don't want their children to have a phone, then they don't have to buy them a phone. School can also ban phones during the school day if they so wish.

But it's not upto the school to dictate what happens at home with regards to mobiles. If parents want their children to have mobiles (for safety, or just because) that's their right - it's nothing to do with the school. The school shouldn't have any right to dictate so long as the phone is switched off and not in use during school hours.

Out of curiosity what would you do with some of the Academies that uses iPads instead of books for teaching purposes, yes they are restricted access, but phones are integral to the learning process now.

I also had a tech free childhood and spent time with my peers. - whilst a factual comment its irrelevant as time moves on. You for example had television, your parents probably complained about that sort of screen time; your grand parents had radio and so forth ...technology evolves. so to blanket statement '(sic) I grew up without one so no one needs one, is really rather narrow minded.

I would imagine many people here grew up without central heating or an inside bathroom but they don't bang on and on that being warm and clean aren't needed.

the most recent studies have found that actually tablet and phone use has little negative effect on children and teens. Not to say some don't have issues but it's not quite as widespread as people have thought

Quite the opposite. Premature thinning of the cortex and greater observation of ADHD diagnostic behaviours are two that spring to mind.

Also why do students need a phone? Saving on printing is a cop out. Children have managed to navigate their way home for generations. Its seems we are dumbing down, socially, mentally and in terms of developing a sense of resilience and agency.

As a teacher, I hate them. If there are any discipline issues ( dependent on school/ students) etc, they are made far worse by phones. Students can write homework down with a pen. If nothing else kids need to learn that is not always appropriate to have a phone in hand. I'd ban them completely from school.

@Aragog - *The most recent studies have found that actually tablet and phone use has little negative effect on children and teens. Not to say some don't have issues but it's not quite as widespread as people have thought.

Can you point to some of those studies please? I'd be interested to see them.

I think a lot of it has to do with personality. My dd18 tends not to use her phone much, other than communication and music, whereas ds16 is a nightmare. He's always on it. Ds21 is somewhere in the middle.

I'm not against tech in lessons. I'm against mobiles for the

Social issue
Cognitive issue
Economic issues

I've outlined.

I'm also curious about parents who want their kids to have them so they can stay in touch constantly in school. Out and about with mates at the weekend yes, but school, in lessons no. I think tech should be more regulated and supported.

Unicorn, but we didn't sit with a TV in lessons or cause disruption with them. Also kids film teachers and each other and upload to social media. It's a real problem in schools.

Oh I for got to say they are handy for finding where you child is when the school text to tell you he isn't in class.

Turns out he was in class the entire time but the teacher missed him off the computerised register so he ended up with a late on his record. That was a heart stopping 10 minutes mixed with anger at the thought he was stupid enough to think he could bunk off without being caught lol.

Also why do students need a phone?

Because some students live and go to school in places where there's no other way to get home except car/bus/transport. If they miss the bus, or the bus breaks down, they need to be able to contact their parents - they can't just walk home because it's 20+ miles away and there's no public transport.

Having a phone is not some sign of weakness in the younger generation As an adult I drive along rural roads everyday and always make sure I have my phone charged for safety reasons. If I break down, I could be miles from a house - and there are no public call boxes around here. I wouldn't feel safe without a way of getting help - at least with a mobile I can ring the AA, or contact someone to come and help me.

It's a sensible precaution for lots of people. Not everyone lives within walking distance of their school, and not everyone has access to public transport to get themselves home, either.

Also tv as a kid finished and we had 3/4 channels. There was a natural break point when the cartoons finished. Not the continual swiping for contact stimulation.

@adaline fair point about to and from school in some circumstances but that doenst apply to being in school.