3 day suspension for having phone out in school

[TooBored1]

Would you think this was reasonable?

For context my DC's school is consulting on going phone free - pupils will have to put their phone into a lockable pouch when they enter school. They will be subject to random bag checks, and if your phone is not in the locked pouch, or if you are caught using it, there will be an automatic 3 day suspension.

Overall, I'm in favour of going phone free, but I think the punishment is too much, especially as it is harsher than that given for fighting/bullying or disrupting lessons.

I also don't think it will prevent cyber bullying, as, as experienced by both my children, this happens in the evening, rather than during the day.

The punishment is ok - your are being unreasonable
The punishment is not ok - you are not being unreasonable

DD’s phone is taken off her when she gets into school and goes and collects it when it’s time to leave.

To the point now if she doesn’t have any clubs and she’s getting a lift both ways to/from school she doesn’t bother taking it in. Much better all around.

There's currently a semi-rational movement to blame 'devices' for all humanity's woes, and particularly those of the younger generation. Personally, I'd fight it tooth and nail. But it'll be hard going!

Sheesh - I’m counting my blessings that my child goes to a sensible and moderate school. Phones if seen are confiscated. No one searches bags. Uniform and equipment requirements are on the minimal
side. Focus is on attendance and education.

good job really as for all those sanctimoniously saying ‘if you don’t like
it choose another school’, in my rural area there isn’t one! Another reason I'm glad they have the phone so can contact us and be safe to and from school . And before anyone chips in about the ‘what would you have done in the good old days?’ Well back then they would have been safely on the school bus but cuts saw to that being cancelled with a 2.9 mile walk along country roads suddenly and miraculously becoming a safe walking route over night.

@SaxaSoLo I think rural parents do have fewer choices but surrounding cities there are towns with schools. You might notice private school parents drive much further to get the best fit school. Even in my rural area, not all parents choose the local school by any means.

Op (and some posters) you know that if you drink drive you lose your driving licence and receive a fine. We've all be told that, we probably know people that's happened too...but you sound like the person who says " I was only a bit over the limit..it's not fair"
Them's the rules, your boy broke them...if you can't do the time don't commit the crime.

I am speaking of my own situation. I’m sure other parents in town have issues with admissions, catchment etc etc.

I am really am counting my blessings with my child’s school. There are reward schemes
to encourage good behaviour, I get behaviour scores sent to me from every lesson; it just seems like the school is working with students and parents not against them in a punitive manner. I think the head would possibly explode at the notion of losing 3 days education. Utterly disproportionate. Oh and they also get asked to use their phones occasionally in class too.

Yes, but the point is that drink driving is a serious offence and the penalty is proportionate. How about if you speed and have you license taken away immediately? Still think that’s ok? Forget the training course and points on your licence?

issue is with behaviour control you need to encourage some of the good behaviour, modify the undesirable behaviour and leave some headspace to punish the really serious stuff.

Schools have felt the need to up the anti due to persistent and continuous problems with phones in class.

As with most things, it's the minority who abuse the rules. Teachers can tell if it's an accident a phone wasn't switched off or a student deliberately disrupting but the impact is the same.

You don't realise how much sneaky recording, messages, sharing memes etc goes on and much of it is to do with deriding peers and staff.

One instance recently, a pupil videoed a staff member, put a soundtrack over it to make it look like he was swearing and boasted he had sent it to his parents and the police! I mean, teachers can do without this kind of crap on top of everything else.

Yes 3 days does sound extreme, it is, but they're emphasising the importance of the issue, ie zero tolerance, because they're probably so fed up with the amount of time wasted dealing with phones and their misuse.

Indeed! It's also so sad to see them when they come out and they all have their heads down looking at their phones.

I worked in a school where they were allowed to use them during breaks and it really was noteworthy the difference in behaviour. In the classroom many couldn't be quiet for a minute and chatted constantly but as soon as they were outside there was silence while they all stood transfixed to their phones.

But the point I was (badly) trying to make is you know if you drink 5 pints of cider, you will lose your license. The kid knew the punishment but did it anyway.

I'm not old enough for lines. We had mobile phones when I was at school. Soft touch punishments didn't work then, they haven't worked since and parents should no better than to say anything other than thank you to a school trying to tackle it.

Then maybe parents should put some boundaries in place to make sure it doesn't happen again (or ideally doesn't happen in the first place)?

Follow the rules, don't get in trouble. Not sure you need to complicate it any more than that?

It's a weird way of being sure they are phone free, but if they are still carrying it around the punishment would have to be severe to ensure they are not used.
I would suggest to the consultation that pupils either don't bring them to school or check them at the door- much more reliable and you don't need tough punishments to enforce it.

I think the whole point of the punishment is for it to be extreme - so the kids follow the rule. I wish they would implement this in more schools! I’d certainly be on board if it was at my child’s school.

perhaps parents should search their kids pockets and bags before school.... or PERHAPS kids should learn to follow rules without being forced!

It might not be compulsory but it's called engaging with the school. Which is surely the key to a meaningful, mutually supportive relationship between parents and educators, to the benefit of the children.

You'd be surprised! One of the schools in the MAT was still using what amounted to lines last year.

Did you read the OP? None one, least of all my child, has broken a no phone rule. It's not yet in force.

I'm in favour of banning phones in school, my question was is 3 day suspension a sanction commensurate with being found with your phone, when violent attacks don't merit such a punishment.

And the schools in most surrounding towns are owned by the same MAT -about 16,000 kids all in.

Who is whining?

Thank you everyone, this has been highly illuminating, not least because I am shocked at how many people don't believe it is the right/duty of a parent to enter into a reasonable, respectful dialogue with school over rules, policies and punishments.

My children know they go to school to learn, that they need to follow the rules, be respectful of others and generally be good eggs. They know they will face suitable consequences for not meeting these standards but they also know that I will (appropriately) raise concerns I have with the school.

Do remember, I'm not questioning the need/validity of a phone ban, just querying the proposed punishment.

Thank you everyone, this has been highly illuminating, not least because I am shocked at how many people don't believe it is the right/duty of a parent to enter into a reasonable, respectful dialogue with school over rules, policies and punishments.

You are within your rights to contact them about it, but they absolutely don't have to take any notice of your opinion. They certainly don't have to have a dialogue with you about it. They decide their rules. You can vote with your feet if you don't like their rules.

@TooBored1 He’s been given 3 days off for something though! I assume not obeying instructions?

You also don’t understand consultations. You don’t get a say! They just read what the respondents reply to probably very general questions. They might inform the policy but I doubt it. It’s likely the same policy will be in all the Mats schools so what chance have your views got? None.

There is already a behaviour policy with sanctions. They must have one because it’s a legal requirement. They have applied this - probably unfairly. It’s not linked to a phone policy specifically (they don’t have one) but it’s going to set out expected behaviour and punishment for not meeting expectations. I assume you have read it.

You are getting a flavour of what the new phone policy will be but the behaviour policy, and sanctions within it, will take precedence over the phone policy when it comes to punishment. Ultimately the sanctions policy is applied by the head regarding suspensions and the reason can be what behaviour they deem unacceptable. So taking the phone out, when the request is not to, is a behaviour breach. Although, in my view, and yours, a minor one.

Such a great shame your schools have been taken over by learning factories staffed by robots.

@TizerorFizz
"He’s been given 3 days off for something though! I assume not obeying instructions?"

The OPs child hasn't been suspended for 3 days. She says this is the schools potential punishment for using a phone. It's not the rule yet.