Are there any parents out there who support smartphones in schools?

[LadyJos]

Just curious as all the dialogue out there seems to be about banning them.

I can't speak for the other poster, but from the early days of BF if I ever asked for help (really struggled at first) i was constantly asked by the midwives/ nurses etc how long I'd fed for, when, how frequently etc. No way I could remember this without recording it. I had no idea before this that I was supposed to know!

It actually built up a really useful record.

I wouldn't want him to do that without a phone so that he can message me to let me know if he will be going to the park and the ability for me to track his location with gps.

You don't need a phone with access to web and social media for this.
I'm looking into basic phones with these useful functionalities.

As I'd said upthread, of course I think there's a place for children with specific issues like autism or conditions like diabetes who have a need for a phone, to have one. But this is not the majority and what's being spoken about the day to day ups and downs being best managed by the young people themselves or the school, in order to foster self reliance.

Yes in the past there was little room for kids emotions and they were expected to just pipe down - not good at all. But the pendulum swinging the other way to 'I'm here to help you every time you feel bad' - not good either, not healthy for children as they develop and begin to separate from parents, to not have to learn to manage their day to day challenges independently.

I got the bus home every day. At no point did I need to use the pay phone to call my parents. We were fine. If there was a problem we figured it out.

The defence of phones on here is ridiculous.

Actually it worked for me. I needed to remember what I'd fed from which boob to keep the supply even and to prevent the baby from getting a favourite boob.

Gosh, it sounds like that needs tightening up - I’m surprised it hasn’t been raised as a safeguarding issue requiring immediate action, especially if there have been incidents.

All right - point taken. But there are regulators. The EU regulates nearly everthing so surely they would have stepped in on smartphones by now? I don't know. We're told so much is dangerous all the time. I can't just react to every piece of research as I'd go mad. When I was growing up it was all TV will give you square eyes. I'll definitely act if there's solid proof but otherwise it's just going to send us all mad!

What an unbelievably naïve view!

This. Kids will ask to go to the toilet just so they can go on their phones for 5 minutes. Imo that's what is driving the current controversy about schools banning kids from going to the toilet in lesson time. 20 years ago there weren't so many asking to go. You can say 'Ok, you can go to the toilet, but leave your phone'. They'll say they haven't got their phone in school today, or that it's in their locker. Some will bring in an old phone to hand over!

I'm not being naive! I've literally said there are positives and negatives to phone use! That's the most balanced view there is!

I think that the rise of toddlers and pre-school children glued to a smartphone is an even more serious concern than smartphones at school because they younger they start using them, the more hooked they get. Someone is going to say that their child only plays educational games but based on my experience it’s often YouTube or a game (with the sound on )

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/feb/21/every-hour-children-spend-on-screens-raises-chance-of-myopia-study-finds?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

Op, turns out our parents were right about the tv!!

Most schools don't have the facilities to store hundreds of phones. Which is why off in the bottom of the bag is the next best option.

Schools have the power to ban smartphones, many have, so I can only assume that those who haven't don't see them as enough of a problem?

DS injured himself on the way home once, he tripped over and hit his knee on a stone, he couldn't limp home. So he rang and we collected him. If he hadn't had a phone then he would have been stuck until a member of the public found him and arranged something for him.

Now when I was growing up I would have knocked a door if I needed help and if they were home they'd answer, but these days many people don't answer the door unless it's a prearranged visit and certainly wouldn't put themselves out on account of a teenage boy they don't know. So he needs a phone.

It's not just parenting that's up for debate here, it's humaning generally. I don't feel as though a stranger would necessarily help any more. Sad but true.

I so agree with this! Do not underestimate the ingenuity a determined pupil will show to get access to their phones !

In the days before smartphones my sister used to put a safety pin on the side of her bra to indicate where to feed from next.

DD needed feeding from both sides every time as I didn't have a large milk supply (not enough room).

Awaiting a ND assessment for DD and it seems ND is a bit of a theme on here.

She's had a couple of panics when she's got on the wrong bus and was able to call for help. Also twice messaged me from school asking me to pick her up, but I called the pastoral team and they found her and persuaded her to stay in school.

So it's been helpful for us. My DC also go to school from one house and home to another once a week, so it's good for that in case something crops up.

I support the turning off of phones during the school day.

Both mine also use mobile apps for school stuff/homework.

Smartphones are not the problem.
A bad workman blames his tools.

The problem is misuse and a lack of monitoring and guidance. Aka parenting.

I was pleased DD had her phone at school a couple of weeks ago. She was doubled over in pain and needed to come home. The school receptionist gave her 2 paracetamol and sent her back to class. She tried to find the school nurse but she was tied up in a vaccination clinic. DD messaged me in a panic, I collected her at lunchtime, took her straight to A&E and she was admitted to a ward by 4pm with appendicitis and operated on the next day. I couldn't rely on school contacting me in an emergency in that instance.

Or perhaps pupils could just do as they’re asked eg don’t go out through fire doors, sign out as required, go to first aid instead of just phoning your parents? On a campus style facility pupils are moving around constantly

In my local authority we are not allowed to hand out paracetamol, certainly not from reception. There is a first aider available with a radio at all times. If I am involved in vaccinations there is another first aider available, again on call by radio. I’m sorry this happened to your daughter. I have had to call an ambulance before for a pupil with severe stomach pain which turned out to be appendicitis . I consider myself to be a diligent and conscientious first aider.

I do. Put them in bag and they can be used one school finishes walking home. Both ds's enjoy their phones and haven't had any nastiness or bullying.

So phones were technically banned at the school I worked at but policing that was an absolute nightmare. The sheer volume of disregard for the rules just makes it unworkable. Then you get into arguments with students, enabled by parents, who think that they are justified in the reason for being on their phone. And if you try and confiscate them then they argue or just outright refuse. This is again backed by parents who tell them not to hand their phones in.

It's not a case of not needing to but more not being able to.

It’s not the phone that’s the issue - it’s social media.

I have seen so many issues that have been escalated because of social media and the ability to take photos and videos and circulate them pretty quickly. Or dodgy chats with perves that have a bunch of school kids on them.

No issue with phone - but at those oblivious to what damage it’s causing to some

Generations of us survived though. Being cut off can be a good thing, having dedicated space to socialise and learn without being distracted from the outside.

Phones don’t have to be smart phones. I’d advocate having the old style phones where you can call and receive calls and texts, but no internet/social media. I bet break times are just kids sitting staring and a screen!

I have made further comments addressing some of this but for me the risks outweigh any positives that might come from it.

As long as they’re able to get hold of a parent or the emergency services at all times without needing to ask anyone else I’m happy, dumb phones are great for that.