Thursday 06 September 2018 9:02 am

DEBATE: Should mobile phones be banned in schools to help children concentrate?

Should mobile phones be banned in schools to help children concentrate?

Jenny Afia, privacy lawyer and partner at Schillings and a member of the Children’s Commissioner’s Digital Task Force, says YES.

Bravo to France for banning mobile phones in schools.

We face a public health crisis in the UK with children glued to their screens, causing increased anxiety and social aggression and worse relationships and cognitive abilities. Smart phones are not making our kids smarter.

I feel guilty about how much time my young kids spend online. Some of this is down to my lazy parenting. But the technology is designed to be compulsive, meaning controlling screen time is an uphill struggle. Parents also don’t want their children to be the only ones not on social media, like we wouldn’t want them to be the only ones not to go on a school trip.

That’s why universal rules around phones makes such sense. Children need screen-free spaces to develop properly.

Kicking a ball around at playtime or making up games and chatting is going to be far better for their development than staring at a screen.

Rose Luckin, professor of learner centred design at UCL, says NO.

It is worth considering the benefits of allowing young people access to their mobile phones in school. When incorporated constructively, mobile technology can in fact increase pupil engagement and support learning.

For a start, mobiles have a valuable function in school rewards and penalties systems. Challenging behaviour is met with the confiscation of phones until the end of the day – an important bargaining chip for teachers.

More importantly, mobiles can bring real educational potential. A recent survey by education community Bett found that one in five teachers were looking to incorporate mobile learning into classes. Mobile-based tasks can support independent learning and encourage pupils’ creativity.

Far from being a distraction, phones can be a companion to learning. They are an example of the transformation of education through technology. Getting the most out of technology is a learning curve, so let’s not shy away from aspiring to maximise the benefits of phones in schools.