Dear Sir, – Much like it’s unnecessary for bicycle storage to include luxe materials like granite, or for security lodges to have high-end curved roofs, there’s no need to spend extravagantly on advanced solutions to handle smartphone use in high schools, as discussed in the recent article “What are smartphone ‘pouches’ being introduced in schools? And how do they function?” (News, October 3rd).
The consensus among parents is that high school students need to have mobile phones for their commute to and from school, but not during educational hours. This has the positive social outcome of promoting interpersonal communication among students during breaks, rather than the mindless browsing of social media sites.
However, the prevention of phone usage during school hours shouldn’t necessitate costly pouch systems. Schools can simply enforce a regulation requiring phones to be kept in lockers throughout the day. If no lockers are available, students could keep their phones in their coat pockets or in a group basket, with penalties set for non-compliance. The €9 million savings could be more wisely allocated to sport, drama, and music facilities in schools, which would bring well-rounded benefits. The Government must become more prudent in spending our tax money by prioritizing common sense. – Yours Sincerely,
HELEN GALLAGHER,
Bearú, New Ross, Why aren’t more towns offering such self-assured and down-to-earth cuisines, I wonder?
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Dublin 6.
Dear Sir, – In addition to procuring mobile phone pouches for students, I propose an extra 160 pouches to be acquired and given to each TD to prohibit phone usage while the Parliament is in proceedings. – Yours sincerely,
MARGARET TREANOR,
Dublin 13.
Dear Sir, – €9 million for pouches to hold mobile phones. I was on the verge of asking, have we gone mad? But perhaps the more pressing query should be: are we still losing our minds?
Replies preferentially by text message, clearly. – Yours Sincerely,
PETER DECLAN O’HALLORAN,
Belturbet,
Co Cavan.