We’re so glad we’ve banned smartphones
...and so are the parents, school heads tell Mail survey
MORE than 70 school principals have told the Irish Daily Mail they have banned the use of smartphones in their schools completely – and say they are thrilled with the positive impact it has had on students.
Responding to the Mail survey, of approximately 2,000 principals nationwide, a total of 74 head teachers, from both primary and secondary level, said that smartphones were not allowed on their school grounds at all.
The majority of the principals who have banned phones said that exceptions could be made to the policy under certain circumstances, where a student may be allowed to give their mobile phone to a teacher for the school day.
Principals gave a variety of readay. sons for having strict policies on phones, including to reduce the risk of cyber-bullying, to prevent distractions in class, and to improve students’ social skills.
Many principals also argued that children do not need phones when they are in school, as parents can contact them or be contacted through the school office.
Principal of St Joseph’s National School in Bakan, Co. Mayo, Marie McDonagh, said it wasn’t just smartphones that are banned, but any device with a camera such as iPods and iPads.
Ms McDonagh told the Mail that parents have been very cooperative with the policy as it takes the pressure off them.
She said she believes that not only should there be a ban in schools, but also a minimum age for ownership, as children are too young to process the information they can access.
‘There’s no escape for children,’ Ms McDonagh said.
Principal at Beaumont Girls National School in Cork, Damien Keane, said that their policy was that smartphones must be switched off during the school He said students were very co-operative, but believes the policy should go further, saying the devices should be banned from primary schools ‘full stop’.
The survey asked approximately 2,000 principals if they had a smartphone policy in place in their school.
Of the first 100 to reply, five said that phones could be brought to school, but must be handed over in the morning, before being returned to students at the end of the day.
In 15 schools, smartphones do not have to be handed over to a staff member, but must remain switched off throughout the day. Meanwhile, only two schools allow students to use their smartphones during break time.
A further four principals did not specify their policy.
A major debate arose around the issue of young people owning smartphones following the sentencing of 26-year-old Matthew Horan, who was found guilty last month of grooming and sexually exploiting a number of primary school girls through social media sites such as Kik.
Three consecutive opinion polls have shown that the majority of the public now want regulation surrounding children using smartphones.
One of these was an exclusive Mail poll, which revealed last month that more than twothirds of respondents support a smartphone ban for those aged under 16 years of age.