Teach the basics and leave digital technology to parents
A Finnish expert has called on smartphones to be banned from primary schools as they are a distraction and lead to lower education outcomes. Despite this, a NZ deputy principal says they welcome all devices as they are powerful learning tools, and children need to learn to navigate the advantages and disadvantages. These young children haven’t even developed the basic building blocks of learning. Even students who have good self-discipline are impacted on negatively by others being on their phones. When students are encouraged by schools to bring their own devices home, the recreational use of their school devices cuts into other activities after school. The decision to allow smart phones/BYOD in schools, from as young as primary age, creates peer pressure and parents then have to weigh up whether to buy their child a phone/device, a decision they may not feel is appropriate, versus their child being socially left out. Schools are causing a cultural change, then blaming parents for not monitoring use. How about leaving the teaching of self-discipline and device use to parents at the age they feel is right for their child, and giving our kids the best education they can get? Or teaching selfresponsibility with shared school devices for young children? The last OECD report says that possibly the best way to create equal opportunities in a digital world is by teaching a good standard of proficiency in reading, writing and maths
. . . more than access to device use. Many schools are not considering the impact on education, health or communities in their panic to achieve digital fluency. Julie Cullen, Pt Chevalier
I have a beef with cow disease
Thousands of cows will be slaughtered, and it is intended that their meat will go into our food supply. The [Federated Farmers] website says: “It does not infect humans and presents no food safety risk. There is no concern about eating meat, milk and milk products.” I lived in London in 1989 when mad cow disease was prevalent. I cannot recall eating any beef, however, now I cannot give blood or donate organs when I die, which is a pity because I have a rare blood group. So how can we be so sure this meat will have no effect on humans? It seems that must have been the thought in London in 1989. Lisa Jones, Mairangi Bay
Environmental warrior
I agree with Kerre McIvor (Banning plastic is just fantastic, May 27). Why can’t Countdown supermarkets bring in the ban on single-use plastic bags to all stores now, instead of waiting until December? That is another six months of unnecessary plastic bag use. Also, why can’t other supermarkets jump on board now. I am using biodegradable bin liners made from cornstarch and produce bags made from milk-bottle tops (both ordered online); I carry my jute or reusable shopping bags in the car, and I refuse to accept a plastic bag when shopping (not food). Some shop assistants seem unaware of the changes and keep trying to give me a plastic bag when I don’t want it or need it. I also have a worm farm for my vege and fruit scraps. They’re so easy to take care of and the worm juice is great for your garden. Come on NZ, let’s all do our bit. One less plastic bag is one less plastic bag that may end up in the ocean. It’s just a change of mindset and being organised. Get the whole family on board and excited about keeping plastic out of our waterways. Lynda Sutton, Tauranga
Painful punch
Thank you to the insightful Heather du Plessis-Allan for her opinion piece featuring Trevor Mallard (HOS, May 27). I learned a new euphemism. Du PlessisAllan reports that: “It’s hard to believe the man who once punched Tau Henare in the corridors of Parliament . . .” Ouch. William Wright, Rotorua
Softly saving lives
Perhaps between lanes, rather than hard barriers such as concrete, steel or wire contraptions, and places where there is no barrier at all, a soft barrier of about 3m filled with rubber from chipped, old tyres would be less catastrophic. Liam Hatch, Mt Albert