Owning a cell phone has become the norm for people of all ages, and while there is a convenience argument, experts and regulators have expressed concerns about children's well-being and distraction while they learn. To this end, the UK government is the latest to announce tips for banning phone use at school. It follows other European countries like France and Italy, which bans phones in classrooms.
Some schools in the UK already have no-phone policies in place, but these guidelines could be widely adopted and standardized. “This is about ensuring clarity and consistency of practice, supporting school leaders and leaders and giving staff the confidence to act,” said Gillian Keegan, UK Secretary of State for Education. 'Education, in a press release. release. “Children today are growing up in an increasingly complex world, living their lives online and offline. This presents many exciting opportunities, but also challenges. By banning cell phones, schools can create safe, quiet, distraction-free environments so that all students can receive information. the education they deserve. »
While the British Government encourages schools to create their own policies, it presents some overarching options. The first – and most extreme – is the total ban on cell phones in schools. However, the guidance recognizes that this could create complications or risks for children when traveling to and from school. The next option fixes this problem while removing the phones. He suggests that students hand over their phones when they arrive at school.
Then there's the locker route, where phones are kept strictly in students' lockers or whatever personal storage space they have at school. While this allows students to keep their device, it will still not be usable at any time of the day, even when accessing the locker during breaks. The last option is what many schools do: let students keep their phone in their bag, but it must be turned off and never accessed.
The guide also recommends teaching students about the potentially harmful impact of cell phones on young people. Study after study shows that social media, in particular, can have a negative impact on the mental health of young people. The UK government says that as well as tackling the problem of social media, restricting phone use can increase students' concentration, allow them to be active and spend time with their peers face-to-face.
Parents are encouraged to contact the school directly rather than by private telephone if they need to contact their child. The guidance also encourages parents to discuss rules at home and, again, phone and internet risks.