More and more countries from East to West are banning phones in schools.
Reason for controversy
In May, Florida passed a law requiring public schools across the state to ban students from using phones during class time and to block students from accessing social media via the district’s wifi. In September, Florida’s Orange County School District went even further, banning phones throughout the day, even during breaks between classes. And the decision was immediately controversial.
In recent interviews with The New York Times , dozens of Orange County parents and students expressed support for the ban on phones during school hours but opposed a full-day ban. Parents argued that their children should have the opportunity to contact them directly during their free time, while students described the ban as unfair and backward.
“They expect us to be responsible for our choices. But then they take away our ability to make choices and learn responsibly,” said Sophia Ferrara, a senior who needs to use her phone in her free time to attend online university classes. Other students said the phone ban, which prevents them from checking their class schedules or having to go to the office to ask permission to use their phones if they want to call their parents, makes school feel more like a “prison.”
Increasingly strict measures to keep young people away from their phones are a common move among many public schools across the country. Statistics from the US Department of Education in 2021 show that about 77% of schools ban non-academic phone use during class. Some districts such as South Portland, Maine... also ban phone use throughout the day, similar to Orange County.
The debate between allowing or banning cell phone use during class is still "hot" to this day (illustrative photo)
According to lawmakers and school district leaders, the widespread use of social media on campus is threatening students’ academic performance, well-being, and physical safety. In some schools, students have planned and filmed assaults on fellow students to post on TikTok and Instagram. Meanwhile, messaging apps are cited as a leading cause of distraction and loss of concentration, as students constantly “talk” to each other in virtual space during class.
Many countries join the move
Earlier in October, the UK Department for Education issued new guidance, recommending that schools nationwide ban students from using phones throughout the day, including breaks. This is aimed at reducing cyberbullying and increasing concentration during lessons. If schools do not follow this guidance, the UK government will consider making it a law in the future, the statement said.
A year ago, the Italian Ministry of Education also issued a nationwide ban on phones in schools, with teachers instructed to collect students' phones at the beginning of class. On the other hand, using phones in the classroom was described as "a distraction" and "disrespectful to teachers". "We must protect the interests of students who come to class to learn," the statement said.
Starting in 2021, China will ban primary and secondary school students from bringing mobile phones to school. The reason given by the Chinese Ministry of Education is to "protect students' eyesight, help them concentrate on their studies, and prevent internet and game addiction," while also aiming to "enhance students' physical and mental development," according to the South China Morning Post .
Notice allowing the use of phones to buy food is available at Wellington College (New Zealand) canteen. During the rest of the time at school, students are almost not allowed to use phones.
In 2018, France passed a law banning the use of phones, tablets, and smartwatches on school grounds for primary and secondary school children. The ban also applies to boarding schools and on school trips. That same year, the Greek Ministry of Education banned phones in all kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools, and teachers were only allowed to use phones for teaching purposes.
In New Zealand, some schools have also recently banned the use of phones during class, such as Wellington College. Speaking to Thanh Nien Newspaper, Mr. Patrick Smith, Vice Principal of the school, said the ban is intended to help students feel safe at school, have the opportunity to interact directly with classmates, and at the same time allow teachers to teach without distraction. "However, in lessons such as technology, teachers can allow students to use phones to monitor lessons effectively," Mr. Smith said.
National studies have come to mixed conclusions about the effectiveness of bans. For example, a 2016 federal survey of U.S. principals found that schools that banned phones had higher rates of cyberbullying than schools that allowed them, but did not provide a specific reason.
A study of Spanish schools published last year found that cyberbullying had dropped significantly in two areas that had banned phones in schools. In one of the areas, students’ test scores in math and science had also increased significantly.
Meanwhile, a recent study in Norway found that girls who were banned from using their phones in high school had higher GPAs. The study also found that the ban had “no effect” on boys’ GPAs, perhaps because girls spent more time on their phones.
Advice from UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released its Global Education Monitoring 2023 report in July, which asserted that excessive phone use will reduce learning performance and negatively impact children's emotional stability. Therefore, the agency called on countries to ban phones in schools while maintaining the goal of "human-centered" education.
Students also need to learn about the risks and opportunities that come with technology, develop critical thinking skills, and understand how to live with technology and how to adapt without it, according to UNESCO. "Protecting students from new and innovative technologies can put them at a disadvantage," the report added.
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