Education Minister Norma Foley is contemplating the prohibition of mobile phones in all second-level educational institutions contending with issues such as student distraction and cyberbullying as shown by research. Despite the actions of numerous secondary schools to limit the accessibility of mobile phones or requiring students to store them in lockers, Foley endorsed the wider ban as the optimal solution.
Sinead Walsh, a Laois-based mother of three adolescents, voiced her full support for the prohibition. She brought up the topic of phone usage within the school environment during parental consultations last year.
She recollected a teacher stating: “In today’s times, this is how children are educated, marking the final 15-20 minutes of their class with educational games, as they lack the concentration span to continue for an hour.” She dismissed this approach as preposterous, asserting that minus phones, children would be compelled to communicate verbally, network, and interact with their educators. Walsh indicated most children these days only socialize via social networks and chat groups. She added that phone usage within schools is likely causing issues for the teaching cadre and staff.
Jennifer O’Donnell from Donegal, supported a total ban of smartphones in secondary education, advancing similar propositions previously to her local school. The mother declared, “A significant number of parents favoured the pledge. However, the secondary school in our locality is rather lenient towards smartphones. In the absence of support from the government, instituting a smartphone prohibition poses a formidable task for headteachers.”
In the wake of a coincidental meeting with the CEO of Cyber Safe Kids, an Irish charity focused on boosting online safety for children, Bryan Hickson from Dublin changed his mind about the presence of smartphones in schools.
“As a parent to two young kids, I’m wholeheartedly dedicated to making sure they are safeguarded and encouraged in this era of technology,” he articulated.
Hickson highlighted how smartphones, if not appropriately handled, can become a portal to online dangers. He also revealed his collaborations with nine local schools to foster environments free from smartphones.
However, Hickson insisted this isn’t solely an issue for schools or authorities, it’s a societal concern where parents must step up, establish limits, and inculcate the habit of responsible technology usage.
“We, as parents, are the ones purchasing the phones, downloading apps, and lifting bans. We can’t stand around, waiting for someone else to rectify the pitfalls in our households,” he opined.
Co Galway local, Celine O’Loan advised that children be taught to interact without digital aid, problem-solve without resorting to Google, and learn self-entertainment or engage in reading. The mother of two felt she needs to initiate protective measures to counteract body image issues and cyberbullying effects, which she believes stems from “internet and smartphone availability”.
Co Cork-based educator, Elaine Byrne, spoke of the firsthand negative influences of smartphone usage on both children and adolescents. “Parental protection of their teens will become much easier by moving smartphones out of the scenario in educational institutions, and delaying the ownership of such devices until a more age-appropriate time,” she suggested.
Conversely, Eoghan Cleary, a tutor from Co Wicklow, held a different perspective. Although supportive of Foley’s plan, which he termed as “well-meant”, Cleary stressed that such measures wouldn’t be necessary given that adequate online protections for children were in place. Removing smartphones during educational hours would result in better focus, improved memory, diminished anxiety, and better academic achievements, suggested Cleary. He stressed that while schools do what’s in their capacity, implementing such bans without student involvement would merely result in students viewing it as a rule to dodge. This would inadvertently lead to teachers spending more efforts policing this issue, while the real concern – the unregulated world of social media – remains unresolved. He added, “The smartphone ban merely tackles academic impacts, but a stringent regulation is needed to safeguard children against the daily online crimes they face.”
John Murphy, a freshly retired primary education instructor living in Co Dublin, believed the strategy ignored the key issue. He argued that the bulk of problems at primary level arose from the utilization of mobile phones beyond the school premises.
“Schools are left to handle the repercussions of this societal dilemma. They have been, and continue to, manage in-school mobile usage, but unless not only parents and children, but also the wider society tackles our dependence on smartphones, schools are engaged in a losing battle,” stated Murphy.
Meanwhile, parent, Fiona Harvey, hailing from Co Donegal, gave her nod to the prohibition, though she expressed uncertainty about its practical feasibility. “Children utilise Google Classroom during school and phones are employed for managing the workload in certain subjects”, she mentioned. She voiced curiosity at the prospects of individual schools implementing the newly proposed rules.