Banning phones in schools

In my primary setting, we had phones which belonged to the school, authorised to take photos of school activities.
Personal phones were not permitted to be used around the children, for safeguarding reasons.
My family member in secondary school says that the rule in his school is no use of phones around students.
I am astonished to hear of teachers " on the phone all the time".
Surely the focus in classrooms should be on the pupils.

No-one could get a signal in the new-build school I retired from a few years back, neither staff nor pupils. You had to go tye far end of the field.

Personally I think pupil security travelling to and from school is the most important aspect, so yes secondary pupils should have their phones on them.

Teachers do the register on their phones where I work.

This has been happening en masse around the United States and teachers and districts are reporting that engagement, retainment and test scores are up.

My youngest went through a no phones year for his last year in high school, and he hated it. But he survived.

They still have their phones, they just aren't allowed to use them at school.

I worked with lots of teachers who spent time on their phones during lessons. Some even encouraged their students to look up info on them.
I thought it was very unprofessional but I was dismissed as old fashioned.

I never used my phone when teaching although I have been retired for seven years. I would have considered it unprofessional. I did use my phone when I didn't have a class, usually to make a doctor's appointment. I see nothing wrong with that

I don't know why they weren't banned in the first place.
I think it was because teachers liked to use theirs too- it was common in the last school I worked in.
I once got told off for using my phone in an emergency!
Teachers were using them all the time so it annoyed me...

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Some schools are permitting dumb (not smart) phones only, which would be ideal for the scenario you describe for pick-up communication. I am sure they are cheap to buy. I think they would be best for young children at any time, with no access to social media.

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It’s a difficult one these days, when iPhones are hand held computers, capable of all sorts of tasks.

Both DDs had phones at school in the ‘90s, but, of course just simple Nokias. School was 25 miles away, so they could let me know if their plans for pick-up had changed, and if I didn’t need to set off too soon. It also helped DD2 if there were any problems after she returned to school in her wheelchair. Later, as they passed their driving tests, both drove to and from school, it was very handy to be able to keep in touch in case of a changes of plan/ breakdown, etc.

My daughter having a phone was a lifeline for her when she initially started school as it was such a traumatic experience. It was very useful when the bus had an accident also. She has it on silent in her bag. I work in a secondary and I’ve not seen a pupil get a phone out in class unless requested to do so in class as they can make great teaching aids. In some areas, bus passes are downloaded onto phones, so they would be needed then.

What a dreadful thing to have happened to your poor grandson GG13
I hope his parents made absolutely sure the school cracked down hard on the perpetrators.
Honestly, children can be monsters, can’t they?

Incidentally, how many of your secondary school grandchildren have phones but non-smartphones?
I can imagine though how well that suggestion would go down with your average young teen!

I am really sorry that happened to you grandson and I hope he's OK. But it is an isolated incident.
Banning phones has been very positive in my opinion. Now, the students play sport and talk to each other during breaks. It is much better for them and us, the staff.

He's done well to come through such an awful experience GG.

Smileless2012

That's awful GG, I hope everything's OK now.

He is in his second year of sixth form college, actually enjoying education at last.

Secondary school was horrendous after that incident, without the security of his phone he wouldn’t have gone in at all. As it was his attendance was extremely low. He managed passes in all the compulsory subjects somehow.

That's awful GG, I hope everything's OK now.

If it wasn’t for our GS having his mobile phone in secondary school his parents wouldn’t have known he was hiding in the toilet after being beaten up (including having his head stamped on)

He rang home, DS and DiL dropped everything and rushed to the school demanding that a teacher went and found him.

Police were informed by DiL and acted.

Phones should be banned in schools, many schools now use the pouch system. Phones are surrendered then given back at the end of the day. Just common sense really , unless of course there is a valid reason a child needs their phone.

GD turns her phone off before getting to school. She’s quite happy with that.
It’s better than having your phone confiscated.

Gdd1 will be starting senior school next September - I sincerely hope the rule will be in place by then, if it isn’t already. Not that she even has a smartphone yet.

My DGS has just started at secondary school. Pupils are not allowed to use their phones during the school day. He seems perfectly happy with this.

I think quite a few UK schools observe the same rule. they didn't have to wait for the government to tell them to do it.

This is happening all over the US. Teachers are reporting that kids are engaged at school, learn better and actually, have more fun in class.

The kids hate it.

This should have been done here years ago nanna. We all managed without mobile 'phoneswhen we were at school as did our children.

It should never have been allowed in the first place.