Forum Topic

New Zealand Schools Go Mobile Phone Free in Schooltime

and apparently it's a great success with children chatting to each other in breaks instead of staring at their mobiles, and free teachers from having to continually ask for these phones to be put away.Also some London ones:https://edexec.co.uk/news-london-schools-ban-smartphones-for-pupils/So long as schools maintain good communications and contacts with and between parents childpren so that messages can be passed between them and any special needs accommodated this sounds wonderful.

Philippa Bond ● 456d23 Comments

Any end would help!  As a parent it is difficult to stand our ground and stick to your decisions under the hail and wail of "everyone else has got one", everyone else does it" and "the teachers don't mind".  It is made even worse when teachers join in as part of the class gang when you don't want your child taking expensive electronic distractions to school.It needs to be a joint effort with parents, teachers and children working together.  Schools need to be strong enough to keep not just their pupils but their parents in line. They need to be able to work closer together to get the messages across. I know that teachers can find this hard when parents don't even turn up to Parents' Evenings - let alone any special evenings with talks on drugs use and other risks faced. I've seen the kids' joy of beating the restricted access of computer controls at school.  It can be just seen as a great challenge - especially by a group working together and egging each other on.

Philippa Bond ● 450d

Philippa is onto something important but picking up stick from wrong end. There are tons of studies showing that some kids actually prefer to look and listen to their phones rather than engage in normal one person to another real conversation and social interaction. Kids in many cases are inclined to regard mobiles as playthings rather than as means of communication. Others see them as a way into a world that seems more enticing than the real world in which they are obliged to live. There is a strong case for banning phones in class and for parents (who unfortunately misuse mobiles too) to set limits to phone use. We shall never stop them, but the case for more discipline (self and imposed) in answerable. The alternative is a generation part of which has detached itself from everyday life.

Alexander MacLeod ● 452d

https://theconversation.com/will-new-zealands-school-phone-ban-work-lets-see-what-it-does-for-students-curiosity-228893https://www.renews.co.nz/five-months-into-the-school-phone-ban-heres-how-students-are-finding-it/So here we hope that the kids we used to see immediately putting their phone to their ear as they walk out the school will actually make a call before they leave the school - as well as the adults who do just that as they walk out of a station should have learned by now that they are likely to be preyed on by thieves.

Philippa Bond ● 453d

And beware of small budget phones targeted at children apparently sold via Amazon, they may not be secure:https://www.pentestpartners.com/security-blog/security-flaws-found-in-tiny-phones-promoted-to-children/Ed, sure be OK with his Nokia 7110. I doubt it can run any of the latest malware :-)

Michael Ixer ● 453d

Michael, my son is 51, so when he was told o do this rather a long time ago. But I didn't have to wait for a telegram.

Barbara Stevens ● 454d

Wow, WAP, there's a bit of Internet history :-) Seems as the technology has improved the content has become more crap ...

Michael Ixer ● 454d

Can always remember saying to my son, if he had no money, reverse the charge if he rings me from a phone. If having trouble getting home get a taxi and I would pay them.

Barbara Stevens ● 455d

The Nokia 7110 had a wap browser and spring loaded cover and a roller for scrolling.More Star Trek than Doctor Who although the 8110 was used in the Matrix movie.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_7110

Ed Robinson ● 455d

"However as Ed has mentioned there are apps that do need web access which are useful for watching and waiting for buses etc. What alternatives are there to keep children safe and adults more stress-free worrying about them and where they are?"The Tardis, with the dials set for c.1956?

David Ainsworth ● 455d

Yes, this WAS supposed to be a discussion on the use of mobile phones in schools and the fact that their use has now been banned by legislation in NZ.  However Barbara decided to start an argument about the very mention of NZ.  We are only a small part of the world and are connected to just about everywhere by the world-wide-web - which we are on right now.  We seem to have an overinflated sense of our own importance in the world and with all the changes and increase in AI now being discussed we need to make sure that we are taking enough measures to make sure that we keep our children safe but still give them enough freedom to take advantage of some of the (real) knowledge that can be gained from it - and ability to recognise the real rubbish and scams on the web.I'm interested in how much use of mobile phones and what kind of mobile phones are currently being allowed since some time ago everything was allowed and there was terrible one-upmanship prevailing in schools followed by all the awful thefts of phones from school children.I remember someone posting years ago about how he only gave his children cheap mobiles (ie no web access) to use for the school journeys.  However as Ed has mentioned there are apps that do need web access which are useful for watching and waiting for buses etc. What alternatives are there to keep children safe and adults more stress-free worrying about them and where they are? 

Philippa Bond ● 455d

What has food rationing during the war, or even the fact that it stopped at different times in NZ than in England to do with the banning of mobile phones in schools?

Jane Carter ● 455d

Well, if we need to know anything we can phone a friend.

Barbara Stevens ● 455d

It isn't rubbish at all.  Food was rationed during the war then  have a look at when rationing stopped in the UK.  The dates don't concur.  It doesn't all hsppen at the same time - changes across the world vary!  BTW I think women in NZ got the vote before Britain.

Philippa Bond ● 455d

It’s not so much a ‘load of nonsense’ as it is blindingly obvious so yes best ignored.

Jane Carter ● 455d

Thank you Robert, I should have read your Post before I was stupid enough to reply to her.

Barbara Stevens ● 455d

You talk so much crap, didn't realize you were 100, they had planes in the war. My dad was a signal man, in the Royal Navy, my uncles was in air force.

Barbara Stevens ● 455d

@ BarbaraPlease ignore Philippa’s posts.  It’s Monday morning and l can’t stand her load of nonsense!

Robert Wheeler ● 455d

Barbara - the world has become a lot smaller and more accessible during all our lifetimes.During my own lifetime long distance travel has changed from boat to air.  Countries that had no telephones had to be communicated with by letter depending on boats to take that post.We can now communicate using small mobile phones and send pictures between countries all over the world!  And as to space?  Haven't you noticed it in your life?

Philippa Bond ● 455d

Why are you arguing about NZ, this is Putney England, are you on NZ's Forum as well. At least if a child is looking on their mobile they could be learning something and not arguing with friends. I don't think it's right to be on their phones a lot, can't be doing their eyes much good. Perhaps parents should limit the time they can spend on them.  But then again Philippa if your on every forum or website you can't be setting a very good example either to any children or grandchildren. Or have you even got any, or just telling everybody else what to do for a change.

Barbara Stevens ● 455d

Philippa,The school year in the UK started in September hence the policy has started already!

Ivonne Holliday ● 456d

Ivonne:  June 2024 is only just before the start of this year's summer holidays here and the end of the school year.  We've not finished a school year yet.NZ have actually put it into law instead of just talking about it.  The one-upmanship, theft and bullying and often lack of ability by parents to contact schools here was an absolute nightmare years ago. Computerisation and legislation brought to an end the sharing of school class contact lists and some schools seem(ed) to live in awe or fear of their wealthy and/or vociferous/socially connected parents. Ed: I understand the need to know that your child has arrived at school (or not when they should be there) which wasn't always happening but there are also problems as well with constant tracking.

Philippa Bond ● 456d

Philippa,Your article is dated 10 June 2024.  This has already been implemented, it is not new.When my son was in secondary school that policy was already strictly adhered to.

Ivonne Holliday ● 456d

Smart phone apps are very useful for travelling to school. Bus trackers and bus stop count down being two.Some schools pupils turn their phones on at start of day however that's a huge admin issue. Many schools no longer have lockers.Non smart phones are an option for just texting and calls. This is my preferred option however being on the back benches my policies are usually ignored. Even my Nokia 7110 flip down was rejected.

Ed Robinson ● 456d