Bay of Islands College bans the use of cellphones at school
An increase in “ugly” behaviour, particularly bullying, is prompting a number of Northland schools to begin banning cellphones, Bay of Islands College being the latest to join the list, in response to issues that it says are compromising student discipline and staff wellbeing.
The board of trustees has now imposed a ban that will take effect on May 3.
“Between the distraction in class and anti-social elements, including fighting, cyberbullying, theft and increased negative interactions, mobile phones are causing too many problems,” principal Edith PaintingDavis said.
The school saw no benefit in allowing mobile phones, as they hindered students’ education rather than contributing to it, and teachers were constantly battling students in the classroom to keep off their phones.
A community consultation in 2019, when a mobile phone ban was first mooted by the board, it was resolved to allow phones to be used at break times only. Now students had chromebooks, which were connected to the school server, which blocked access to inappropriate sites.
“Mobile phones with data enable students to access all internet material, and that is disturbing, especially when we are responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for our students,” Painting-Davis said.
“If we see a mobile phone out we will ask the student to hand it over and we will take it to the office. Our office staff will contact the parents/ caregivers and ask them to come and pick it up at the end of the day, or any other day that is convenient.
“If the student is unco-operative and it becomes a bigger problem, then we will meet with the wha¯nau to discuss the situation.”
By removing mobile phones, the school hoped to “dial down” the distractions and hugely reduce the amount of “ugly” behaviour that teachers were having to deal with on a daily basis.
“We want our students to be more socially and emotionally present in the classroom and focusing on their learning and academics. Currently too many students are out of the classroom, trying to sort out problems or dealing with emotional fall-out from nasty texts, messages, videos, Instagram . . . the list goes on.”
The only real concern wha¯nau had had in the past was being able to contact their child when they were on their way to school, or home. If parents needed to contact their children during the day, they could call the student centre or email the school or their child. We need to get back to the business of educating our future leaders. Students have plenty of mobile phone time outside school, and that is where mobile phones need to stay,” she said.
Martin Cocker, chief executive of internet safety organisation Netsafe, which runs a schools programme that offers safety plans and advice on how to deal with problems such as cyberbullying, said cellphone use by students during school hours was a “very significant” issue, particularly in secondary schools, and the high rate at which students were exposed to harmful digital communication.
“Schools have to deal with phone use, as they are a disruption to class activities,” he said.
“A cellphone ban helps schools get through the day, but the issues young people face may not go away by them not using their cellphones.”
Te Tai Tokerau Principals’ Association president Pat Newman said children’s use of social media inappropriately or without any control was the biggest cause of bullying in schools, adding that boards of trustees had the same authority as a local council to enforce rules in schools, including a ban on cellphone use.