Call for school phone ban
Bill could force kids to hand over devices during classes
STUDENTS could soon be made to hand over mobile phones at the start of school, collecting them at day’s end. The idea has been proposed by Independent senators Victor Boyhan, Billy Lawless and Gerard Craughwell.
It’s hoped the legislation could help combat harassment, cyber bullying and intimidation. Senator Craughwell said: “To put the Education Bill in context, we know from research that by the age of 12, nine out of 10 Irish pupils already have a smartphone.
“There is also evidence this has coincided with class disruption on an unprecedented scale.
“This Bill is not about eliminating technology from the class room. It seeks to provide a regulatory framework to preserve the educational quality of digital education while harnessing the attention of school children.
“At the moment regulation is left to the board of management.”
The proposal comes a month after Education Minister Richard Bruton said schools must consult teachers, parents and students about the use of smartphones and tablet devices in classrooms.
In Britain, Culture Secretary Matt Hancock recently called on head teachers to ban mobiles.
And during his election campaign in France, President Emmanuel Macron vowed to pass legislation prohibiting the use of such devices in schools for children up to the age of 15.