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

I do get what you mean, but how many times do you think teachers have to say put your phone away to children and teens throughout the day.

Unless its used as a medical device, why do they need the phone during the school day anyway?

Lots of highly technical jobs require phones to be stored in lockers during the working day. (Such as science, government etc)

Phones are using a lot of problems in schools. A system that prevents the use of phones inside the school, but allows them to have use on it for the journey, is a proportionate idea.

I don't think there is enough tech out there on this.

There ought to be a parent enabled operating mode that the phone can be switched into via a wireless signal from the school. Which switches the phone on say 5 minutes at at the end of each lesson and during breaks/lunchtime and off at all other times.

Something like this would be relatively easy to implement keeping phones off during lessons while allowing kids to use their phones during breaks and lunchtimes.

I would support this personally.

But they don’t need their phones at break and lunch times and that’s when a lot of cyber bullying can occur. No phones in the school day is safer and makes sense

Sounds good to me, I hope more schools go in this direction.

I’d have absolutely no issues with this.

They are protecting your child from cyber bullying during the day. The access you give them in the evening is your choice and responsibility.

Sounds to me like staff are absolutely fed up with having to deal with phone usage. I agree it’s harsh but then don’t do it! I don’t want to go to jail so I make sure I don’t do crimes.

Well a school could choose to turn it off all day then. Or not at all.

I think I would question "they don't need it during break and lunch times".

Because there is a pretty short distance between that and claiming they don't need it at all. Kids need to learn to manage the use of technology. IMO that learning shouldn't come at the expense of lessons though.

Do you sit scrolling on your phone at work when you are meant to be taking part in a meeting or dealing with customers? If you did, would you be reprimanded?

This rule very much is preparing kids for the real world where they will be expected to pay attention to their work for long periods of time. Phone use has destroyed the attention span of many young people.

I agree 100% with this rule.

Hope more schools do it.

It’s really simple. Don’t get your phone out then it won’t matter if it’s 3 day suspension or a month.

Except we're not, because you've decided to pursue me instead of being helpful to OP. So what's your opinion of this? My opinion is that a consequence is better it is directly related to the action. So use your phone, lose your phone. Use your phone and lose three days of education to sit at home = not so great.

3 days for a first offence is way too harsh.

In our school it gets taken off you for the day, second time it stays in the office until a parent comes to collect it. Not sure what happens 3rd time, I clearly didn't read the policy carefully enough before signing it

The amount of time this will save staff and students with investigating, confiscating, the drama that ensues, the videos and photos that are then shared all over socials, the distractions in class... sounds lovely!

Never mind the sheer addiction lots of teens have where they can't be without their phone. I've seen them shaking or unable to focus until they know where it is, constantly reaching for it despite not having it. Teens will actually talk to each other without a screen and develop social skills.

Love this. Wish every school was like this.

I think the school have put it in place because parents and teens now often decide they won't follow the rules. This is meant as a deterrent, and an obvious message that this change is happening and will be taken seriously. The number of parents that will take the easy road and not have the battle with their teens, or will complain about the consequence rather than just saying: that is the rule, you need to follow it. There by working with the school, and the school is supporting that young person and their family.

Phones are terrible in schools. Even if they’re just in their bags, the kids now have “walkie talkie” style apps that mean they can cause their friends’ phones to make noises if they’re switched on. So a boy in my class had his phone making noise today despite it being in his bag, but it was because one of his mates had gone to the toilets to sit on his phone and trigger this app as a joke. They’re a terrible distraction and I’d support anything that got them out of schools.

Way too harsh a punishment for the first offence. 3 days' lost education. Given we're constantly being told that attendance is paramount and every half day counts, 3 full days to sit a home (presumably on their phone) is too much.

And what is the next step for a repeat offender?

A 3 day suspension is a last resort and only suitable for extreme behaviour not a minor phone violation.

I agree with this. It would have to be repeated phone use for this to be remotely proportionate.

3 day suspensions usually come with work that has to be done at home so the 'missing out on education' doesn't wash.

I think it's fair. That said, my son once got a detention for forgetting his pritt stick so I'm used to strict schools.

This will be implemented across the whole MAT, which all but one school in our city. The other school is a church school and we wouldn't qualify as A) don't meet the religious grounds and B) are out of catchment.

Although they are consulting, there will be no choice to avoid it if it is implemented.

I am NOT against the rule, just the harsh, immediate sanction, when such a sanction is NOT imposed for far worse behaviour, up to and including physical attacks on other pupils.

I gave the OP my opinion before replying to you, and then carried on using the discussion forum like everyone else here including you. I’ve really clearly said my opinion of it to you and the OP so I’m not sure why you’re asking me again?

Sadly no, there is a little fudge in that the headteacher has discretion in exceptional cases to deliver/in crease the length of suspension, but no warnings or escalation of sanction for multiple infractions

Same policy my DCs school have. I think the first sanction is losing the phone for 48 hours or something and then it goes to the exclusion.

the sanctions has to be that serious because these are teens. They can all hack the pouches.
my DCs school have had massive issues with phones in younger years, phone calls being made during lessons, filming pranks, filming teachers and winding them up all sorts of stuff. They just eye roll when teachers complain so it has to be something big to stop it.

I work in a nursery and we’re not allowed phones outside of the staff only area. Lots of jobs are similar especially if they involve safeguarding or safety.

I think the particular punishment is over the top but wonder if it’s designed to inconvenience parents so they are stricter with the child about going to school with it. Personally, with a child going on an unreliable public bus to school (rural so only this bus home) my child has needed access to her phone at times through the years if the bus has been late, broken down, dropped her off in the wrong place (driver was sacked as it was about three miles detour from where he should have been and wouldn’t go back to the place he should have been) and numerous other issues.

Id be against a blanket ban, but would be happy with handing them in or switching off and being hidden in school day.