Another Kerry school wants all-out phone ban
ANOTHER primary school is to consult parents about banning smartphones at home too. Amid growing concerns over social media bullying, falling classroom productivity and the possibility of children accessing lewd material, St John’s National School in Kenmare, Co. Kerry, is now pushing for an all-out ban on smartphones. The move follows the successful introduction of a home-and-school ban at Blennerville NS near Tralee which parents and teachers say has had an extremely positive effect on pupils’ concentration and moods. St John’s principal Denis Courtney is now consulting parents on such a ban which, if parents agree, would be put in place from September. The school has introduced a ban on mobile phones during the school day but the curb was being ignored by some students. ‘We have an idea that when we have parents’ night that we might get the man behind the vision, [Blennerville principal] Terry O’Sullivan to come in and talk to the parents in our school and give them an insight into Blennerville NS pilot scheme,’ Mr Courtney said. ‘We to see the level of interest in this. You have to let this come from parents. It will work better if it comes from the parents, and this is why we want to consult with them, rather than dictate to them. ‘Our own parents’ association are very strong on this issue, having seen all the news reports on Blennerville NS. They are aware of the issue and they know the negative impacts that smartphones can have on moods of children. ‘We hope we would be able to introduce a similar approach.’ He added that a lot of the pupils come into school very tired, and he believes this is because a lot of them are on their phones at home during the night. ‘If a lot of schools take this on, then it might alert the Government and the powers that be to ban smartphones for all primary school pupils,’ Mr Courtney added.