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Original poster

In asking if your school allows kids to have phones in school?

51 replies

arganlady · 07/06/2019 22:57

The school ds is about to start (and DH is a board member of) have had issues with kids taking naked pictures of themselves and showing them around.

DH is shocked there are phones allowed in the school at all. He's thinking of proposing a ban on phones in school.

I just wondered what other school's protocols on phones in school were?

OP posts:
Witchend · 07/06/2019 23:43

Ours are allowed phones. They aren't allowed to be seen with them inside unless there is permission given.
Phones are great. Their after school club is cancelled-they can let you know. You want them to take the bus into town, you can let them know etc.

It works well. Occasional issues, but generally sorted out by the school fairly well-text is great for sorting things out as there's physical evidence.
Another local school has a complete ban. So when there is a phone issue they deny all responsibility because "they're not allowed phones at school" even when it's clearly been done when they're in school.

If it's nude photos then they've probably been done at home, so will happen anyway as they'll just pass it round out of school.

What you need to look at is what the reaction of the school is. In one of my dc's year a naked picture was put on a WhatsApp group. The next day all the group who had commented were in exclusion and the whole group was called in to "discuss it". Didn't happen again. I think some of them were quite shocked at how seriously the school took it, but it worked.

jessicawessica · 07/06/2019 23:49

Erm... naked pics at school, no not good.
DS school if caught with a phone...the phone is confiscated and parents have to do the walk of shame (go to reception) to get the phone back.
Needless to say most parents won't let their DCs take phone to school as it's a PITA having to go in and retrieve it.

Cinammoncake · 07/06/2019 23:51

Phones are good for the journey to and from school - if the bus breaks down or forgotten keys or whatever. Switched off during school hours obviously.
Surely naked pics were sent outside school hours anyway?

Original poster
arganlady · 07/06/2019 23:55

The naked pictures were sent outside school time by the girl. The boy showed half the school in school.

Obviously that's a huge issue, she's very young.

The mother is furious that her son has been suspended (for two days). She's also claiming that it's unfair that the girl hasn't been suspended. Hmm

OP posts:
Cinammoncake · 07/06/2019 23:59

The thing is OP, most pics like that would be more likely to be circulated via say WhatsApp group (or whatever chat thing teens currently using) wouldn't they? The point being, banning phones in schools wouldn't necessarily get rid of that problem. Although surely they shouldn't be using phones in school time or break anyway.

ineedaholidaynow · 08/06/2019 00:06

DS's secondary school, phones have to be in bag and off/silent as soon as on school ground until after school. They will sometimes be asked to photograph things for homework etc, but will be given permission for that, and then phone must go away again.

If they use the phone without permission it will be confiscated, for the first offence I think that would be for the rest of the day, but subsequent times it will increase to a week or even a term.

If children are caught misusing social media then I think that can lead to an outright phone ban, and as the school is quite rural and most pupils have to use a bus to get home, then that might cause issues, but school have warned pupils that will be the case. They may even permanently exclude the student (private school)

HaroldsSocalledBluetits · 08/06/2019 00:09

I don't know what relevance the question about phones in school has to the point about images of naked children, given that children do not go to school naked so presumably these were taken at some other time.

Berrylin · 08/06/2019 00:13

When my dd started secondary school, phones had to be turned off and in bags all day (they would be confiscated if seen).

But by the time she finished at that school, that rule had pretty much been forgotten about (though I don’t think it was ever formally dropped). Students walked around with their phones in their hands, had them on their desks during lessons, often used them to take photos of the whiteboard etc.

This shift happened between 2010 and 2017.

Original poster
arganlady · 08/06/2019 00:13

@HaroldsSocalledBluetits because as I've said (twice) they were shown around in school time.

OP posts:
Original poster
arganlady · 08/06/2019 00:16

@Cinammoncake oh totally. But as a school board member dh wants to do what he can in his power to stop it happening. He can only change what happens in the school, unfortunately there are a lot of very laid back/absent parents at this school who don't seem to think a pre teen sending explicit pictures is a problem.

OP posts:
HaroldsSocalledBluetits · 08/06/2019 00:20

They could be shown at any time. Once an image is out there it's public. The issue is the creation/possession of a photo of a naked child. Ditto possession of any other illegal or even inappropriate images. School needs to stamp down hard on this and make sure the lad has a criminal record, because what he's done is a crime. Other kids having phones is neither here nor there. They'll soon stop if they get their collars felt.

Comefromaway · 08/06/2019 00:33

Current school, in bags and turned off. Ds cycles to and from school along a country lane. I want him to have a phone available.

Previous school quite a lax policy. All kids had to have internet enabled iPad to use in school. Someone took a photo of ds naked in the shower after PE & threatened to share it. A huge cover up ensued and the parent of the other child sent me a message although no the lines of it was just boys larking about.

Comefromaway · 08/06/2019 00:37

In your schools case OP, the girl also committed an offence but what action was taken would depend on the circumstances, ages, mental capacity/vulnerability of both parties. Eg a younger child with SEN might be treated differently if they were incited by older NT children.

SCST01 · 08/06/2019 00:43

I work at a secondary school. Our rule is that phones are switched off during the school day.

Walkingdeadfangirl · 08/06/2019 00:50

A ban all phone usage on the premises but permits them to have them on their person or in their bags switched off. If a phone is heard or seen it is confiscated.

a pre teen sending explicit pictures is a problem That is a criminal offence, why aren't the police involved? At the very least the child involved should be permanently excluded.

Original poster
arganlady · 08/06/2019 01:42

We're in the States and I think the law is a little different.

But both the police and lawyers have been involved from the very start. The boy showing his friends is apparently not a crime.

But I absolutely think him only getting a two day suspension is outrageous. And his Mother being outraged on his behalf is blowing my mind. If my ds did that he'd wish he was at school. Angry

There are no rules written in the school handbook for phones yet and dh wants some put in place.

OP posts:
Original poster
arganlady · 08/06/2019 01:43

It was the girl who sent the pictures. They never left the boys phone or it would have been a crime.

OP posts:
Walkingdeadfangirl · 08/06/2019 02:17

The boy showing his friends is apparently not a crime

Wow just WOW

LinoleumBlownapart · 08/06/2019 02:23

Both of my teenagers' schools allow phones. Neither school has lockers. They are not allowed to go on them in the classroom. Some teachers ask them to be in their desks, most just trust the kids, unless it's a test or a quiz and then they have a box to put their phones in.

bumblingbovine49 · 08/06/2019 06:31

Only allowed switched off in bags at ds's secondary school
None to be taken out while in school premises at all. You can't contact your child dlrectly or they you hile they are in school at all, which I am fine with with. If it is urgent to contact them you ring the school office.

Having said that, I know they are given permission sometimes to use phones for specific things in class but it is quite rare .

Dontrainonmyparade · 08/06/2019 06:48

I have 2 children in 2 separate secondary schools. Both ban mobile phone use in the school day. I support it 100%

Pinkprincess1978 · 08/06/2019 07:38

Depends on age. Primary school years 5 & 6 have to hand phone into the office and collect after school.

Secondary they are not allowed them out in the corridors and if they need the toilet during lessons they are meant to leave their phone with the teacher.

I think you will struggle to pass a complete ban as parents will want to be able to check their children get home ok. Many secondary age children get to and from home alone. My ds is about to start secondary school and I will not be happy if we can't keep track of him as he starts to navigate buses on his own for the first time.

I know we didn't have them as children but that's it the point, we have them now and they are apart of life. We have to learn to live with them.

Hearthside · 08/06/2019 13:54

Eldest DC has a phone because we are rural and she catches the school bus so if it happens to break down then they can contact me. At their secondary they can take them but they must stay in their bags including outside at breaks .If they are seen they are confiscated until end of school day .If it happens again confiscated and parents have to then collect said phone .

Hearthside · 08/06/2019 13:56

Meant to add i am totally fine with this as if there is ever an emergency the school can contact us directly.

Caxx · 08/06/2019 13:58

Yes they let them have them in school and sometimes let them use them in.lessons
They treat them.as adults it's a.grammar school though not sure if that makes a difference
My other sons school has a blanket ban

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