France tests banning mobile phones in middle schools | DW News
Summary
TLDRFrance is testing a smartphone ban in 180 middle schools as part of a 'digital pause' to limit children's screen time, with a potential nationwide ban by 2025. Other European countries like the Netherlands, Greece, and Belgium are also implementing similar restrictions. While some parents support the ban, others highlight the importance of communication during the school day. Experts suggest that instead of a complete ban, promoting responsible phone use could better prepare students for the digital world. Studies on the impact of phone bans on students' well-being show mixed results.
Takeaways
- 📱 France is testing a mobile phone ban in 180 middle schools as part of a 'digital pause' for students.
- 🏫 If successful, the trial could lead to a nationwide ban on smartphones in French schools by 2025.
- ⏰ The ban requires students to lock away their phones for the entire school day, including during recess.
- 📉 The initiative aims to reduce screen time, as excessive use is believed to hinder children's development.
- 🔒 Other European countries, like the Netherlands, Greece, and Belgium, are implementing similar restrictions on smartphones in schools.
- 👨👩👦 Some parents are supportive of the ban, citing concerns over lost or stolen phones and agreeing to it if they can still contact their children before and after school.
- 🇬🇧 In the UK, schools also follow a mobile phone ban policy, though individual schools have the flexibility to decide how strictly to enforce it.
- 📚 A developmental psychologist suggests that a complete ban might miss opportunities to teach children responsible phone use, advocating for policies that foster digital resilience.
- 📊 Research in Germany shows mixed results on phone bans' impact on student well-being, with some studies showing benefits and others showing no significant effects.
- 👩🏫 The psychologist recommends that schools work with students to create mobile phone policies that encourage responsible use, rather than imposing outright bans.
Q & A
What is the purpose of France's 'digital pause' in middle schools?
-The 'digital pause' aims to reduce children's screen time and address concerns that smartphones can hinder their development.
How is the smartphone ban being implemented in French middle schools?
-Students in the 180 schools participating in the trial must hand in their smartphones for the entire school day, including during recess.
What concerns do parents have regarding the smartphone ban in French schools?
-Some parents are concerned about not being able to reach their children during the school day, but many feel reassured that phones won’t be lost or stolen.
What is Sarah Rose's perspective on completely banning smartphones in schools?
-Sarah Rose believes that a complete ban may not be the best solution. Instead, she advocates for teaching children responsible phone use and integrating phones into school life in a controlled way.
How do mobile phone bans vary across schools in the UK?
-In the UK, policies vary by school. Some schools require students to leave phones at home, others collect phones during the day, and some simply restrict phone usage during lessons and breaks.
What is the argument for allowing phones in schools according to Sarah Rose's research?
-Rose's research suggests that having phones in schools but restricting their use can help children build digital resilience and make mature decisions about when to use technology.
What evidence supports the argument that banning smartphones improves students' well-being?
-A study from the University of Alburg in Germany found that banning smartphones increased students' social well-being, as they were more engaged with their surroundings.
Why do some studies show conflicting results regarding the effects of smartphone bans in schools?
-Different studies have shown varying impacts on children's well-being and educational attainment, with some finding benefits and others showing little to no effect.
How might smartphone bans affect students’ academic performance?
-Research suggests that bans may benefit lower-achieving students by reducing distractions, but high-achieving students may not experience the same academic improvements.
What approach does Sarah Rose recommend regarding mobile phone policies in schools?
-Rose recommends involving students and parents in developing mobile phone policies to encourage responsible use, rather than enforcing a complete ban.
Outlines
📱 France's Mobile Phone Ban Experiment in Schools
France is conducting a test ban on mobile phones in 180 middle schools, part of a 'digital pause' initiative to reduce screen time and improve student development. Students must hand in their phones for the entire school day, including recess. The initiative is driven by concerns over the negative impact of smartphones on children's development. If successful, a nationwide ban may follow in 2025. Other European countries, such as the Netherlands, Greece, and Belgium, are also implementing similar restrictions.
🤳 Parental Perspectives on France’s Phone Ban
French parents generally support the ban, viewing it as a way to protect their children's phones from theft or loss. As long as parents can still contact their children while they are commuting, they are comfortable with the restrictions. The experiment is seen as a way to help children adapt to life without constant access to smartphones during the school day.
🇬🇧 UK’s Stance on Mobile Phone Restrictions in Schools
In the UK, schools have flexibility in implementing mobile phone policies, with some banning phones entirely and others allowing them but restricting their use during the school day. The UK's guidance encourages phone bans in schools, but it is up to individual institutions to decide how to manage it. Some schools require students to leave their phones at home, while others allow them to be handed in at the start of the day.
🧠 The Missed Opportunity in Banning Phones Completely
Developmental psychologist Sarah Rose discusses how banning phones outright may overlook opportunities for teaching responsible digital behavior. Rose’s research showed that both children and parents were not entirely supportive of full bans. Parents value phones as a way to communicate with their children. She emphasizes that schools should focus on helping students develop digital resilience by learning when and how to use phones appropriately.
🌍 Managing Distractions in a Digital World
Rose argues that teaching children to manage distractions from digital devices is essential, as phones are an integral part of modern life. She believes that policies encouraging responsible phone use during school could better prepare students for real-world challenges. Instead of a full ban, allowing limited access under specific rules might be more beneficial for developing self-regulation and resilience.
📊 Contrasting Studies on Phone Bans and Well-being
Studies on the impact of phone bans on student well-being have shown mixed results. Some research, such as a recent study in Germany, suggests that banning phones can improve students' social well-being, while others show no significant effect or even a negative impact. Similarly, the impact of phone bans on educational attainment varies, with lower-performing students benefiting more from bans compared to high-achieving students.
📈 The Global Shift in Mobile Phone Ban Policies
Some regions, including parts of Canada and New York, have started to reverse their phone bans, suggesting the need for a more nuanced approach. Rose believes that instead of strict bans, schools should engage students in conversations about responsible phone use. This approach could foster a sense of ownership and responsibility, making it easier for teachers to enforce policies and for students to adhere to them.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Digital Pause
💡Smartphone Ban
💡Child Development
💡Mobile Phone Addiction
💡Digital Resilience
💡Parental Concerns
💡Educational Attainment
💡Well-being
💡School Policies
💡Real World Preparation
Highlights
France is testing a mobile phone ban in 180 middle schools as part of a 'digital pause' for school kids.
The phone ban could lead to a nationwide policy in France by 2025 if the trial is successful.
Students must hand in their phones for the entire school day, including during recess.
France's initiative aims to reduce screen time over concerns that it may hinder children's development.
Several European countries, including the Netherlands, Greece, and Belgium, have implemented similar smartphone restrictions in schools.
UK schools have also introduced phone bans, but the implementation varies depending on individual school policies.
Sarah Rose, a senior lecturer in developmental psychology, discusses the UK's flexible approach to mobile phone policies.
Some UK schools allow students to have phones but ensure they are not seen or heard during school hours.
Parents in the UK often support partial restrictions but feel mobile phones are important for communication during commutes.
Sarah Rose advocates for teaching digital resilience and responsible phone use rather than imposing complete bans.
A study from the University of Alburg in Germany found that banning smartphones in schools increases students' social well-being.
However, research on the effects of phone bans on well-being and academic performance has yielded mixed results.
Some studies suggest that phone bans can harm students' well-being, while others show benefits, especially for lower-performing students.
In places like Canada and parts of New York, mobile phone bans have been revoked after being in place for several years.
Sarah Rose recommends engaging students and parents in discussions about responsible mobile phone use instead of enforcing complete bans.
Transcripts
well it's back to school time here in
Europe and France has been testing a
mobile phone ban in hundreds of middle
schools it is part of what is being
called a digital pause for school kids
now several countries in Europe are
debating whether to ban students from
having smartphones while in school if
the trial is deemed a success it could
lead to a Nationwide ban next
year back to school will be different
for tens of thousands of students in
France this fall now they have to hand
in their smartphones before they can
head to
class we're experimenting to see whether
it works the earlier we deal with the
addiction to these phones the
better France is rolling out this
experiment which it calls a digital
pause across 180 middle schools it's
part of a move by Fran's government to
limit the time children spend on screens
over fears it can hinder their
development
M while students were already required
to turn off phones in class now the
devices will have to stay locked away
for the entire duration of the school
day including during
recess gets students used to being
without their phones all day and teaches
them to live differently even during
recess instead of being on their phones
France isn't the only EU country
cracking down on phones in schools the
Netherlands Greece and Belgium have
rolled out similar restrictions on Smart
devices parents here said they were on
board with a
ban as long as I can reach him when he's
on the road to find out where he's at
the Ban's no problem for me it's
reassuring his phone won't get stolen or
lost France's phone ban experiment comes
ahead of a possible plan to enforce it
nationwide from 2025
so who better to discuss this with than
Sarah Rose a senior lecturer in
developmental psychology at
Staffordshire University in the UK hello
so uh this is a conversation across so
many countries just to start things off
how are things done in the UK are there
restrictions on phones in
schools yes there are um so it's a kind
of fast changing um agenda really isn't
it so since February there's been um
guidance in the UK that uh phones should
be not in schools they should be banned
in schools it's still down to individual
schools how they kind of enforce and
develop a policy around Banning mobile
phones so in some schools that might
mean there's no phones on the school
premises and children are expected to
leave phones at home with parents in
other schools that might um mean that
schools are handed in like we were just
hearing about in France
at the beginning of the school day and
not returned until the end of the school
day in other schools that might simply
mean that phones are still with children
but they should be never seen and never
heard um and that would include in break
times between lessons so there is still
some flexibility for schools in terms of
how they choose to ban phones in schools
but that the guidance is around Banning
phones here as well in the UK now now
some of that might be making school
children quite nervous uh to hear that
that's what's going ahead you have
written though that simply Banning
phones that that could be missing out on
an opportunity can you tell me what you
meant by
that absolutely so this is based on uh
research that we did a couple of years
ago when the variability of what schools
did was much greater and we spoke to
children and their parents together um
and we spoke to them about their views
and also their views on different kind
of mobile phone policies that schools
had at that time and we were really
surprised how maturely children spoke
about mobile phone use and we were
really surprised at the strength of
views that parents had that were not
supportive of complete bands in schools
parents instead felt that phones were
really important for keeping in contact
with their child both at the end of the
school day the beginning of the school
day on that journey to from school but
also while they were at school um
there's a a lot of thought around
actually digital resilience and exposing
children to risk and encouraging
children to make mature sensible
decisions and I think that allowing
children to have Mobile phones on them
but uh having school policies and
procedures in schools where we try and
encourage children to not use them phone
when it's not appropriate but to still
have access to their phone could help
prepare them for real the real world and
the fact that digital technology phones
are increasingly there we have to learn
to manage these distractions of course
real world where we're very much always
all on our phones aren't we I do have to
ask you though there there there's a
current study here in Germany uh from
the University of alburg it shows that
banning smartphones in schools actually
increases the social well-being of
students are you surprised to hear that
result I'm not surprised there have been
a number of studies looking at
well-being of children uh in relation to
mobile phone bands and to be honest
they've actually found quite conflicting
results some Studies have found that
actually bands can harm children's
well-being at school that they have
lower well-being in situations where
there are bands other studies like the
one you mentioned uh in alburg um
suggests that actually they can be
beneficial and then there's some studies
in the middle that fine really it isn't
seeming to have a massive impact on
well-being and it's similar when we look
at things like educational attainment as
well it seems that banning mobile phones
can be beneficial um maybe to some
pupils that may be are slightly lower
attaining P peoples that maybe aren't
doing quite so well at school but when
we look overall and we look at high
achieving pupils it doesn't seem to have
the same effects I think it's very easy
to say we will ban phones at school I
think currently um it's it's a popular
um line that governments are choosing to
take but if we look at places such as
Canada uh some areas of New York where
bands have been in place for much longer
there are now some instances of bands
being revoked because actually they're
deciding that that isn't the best route
forwards anymore so just very briefly
I'm afraid we've only just got about
under a minute left but in your view
then you think probably um some
restrictions uh useful but a complete
ban not the way to
go absolutely I think it depends on the
school the setting the age of the
children the maturity of the children
but I think that it could provide a real
opportunity to uh work with children and
parents to engage them in meaningful
conversations about responsible mobile
phone use so rather than a complete ban
thinking about engaging with the pupils
having conversations about what's
appropriate what's not appropriate and
maybe even developing a policy together
which um pupils feel is going to be
beneficial to them by developing it with
pupils it may make it easier for
teachers to enforce well thank you so
much for joining us today with those
insights that is Sarah Rose from
Staffordshire University in the UK we
very much appreciate your
time thank you
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