Chatswood High School bans phones in recess, lunch breaks
Mobile phones have been banned during recess and lunch periods at one of the north shore’s largest public high schools. There are now calls for parents of other local schools to limit data on their children’s phones to deter screen-time during school time.
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A ban on mobile phones in recess and lunch breaks has come into force at the north shore’s second largest public high school in a move to encourage physical activity and face-to-face interaction.
Chatswood High School is the latest seniors campus in the region to outlaw digital devices during play periods under measures spearheaded by parents, teachers and senior staff at the 1575-student college.
Concerns over mobile phone at the school have centred on students overusing their devices during recess and lunch periods as well as missing out on social interaction and physical activity.
School P&C president Lynn Donohue said overuse of devices had been heightened by coronavirus restrictions resulting in some students spending more time glued to their devices this year.
“One the downsides of the lockdown was students were spending a lot more time on their phones and now they’re back at school the aim has been to break that activity,” she said.
“So far it’s been effective and the feedback (from students) has actually been quite positive – they’re enjoying spending more time talking with each other and getting active.”
The move comes after similar restrictions were rolled out at the nearby Willoughby Girls High School with teachers enforcing measures through a “three strikes” rule and confiscating phones in some scenarios.
P&C president Liz Foster said the crackdown had resulted in improved wellbeing for the school’s 962 students.
“The students are allowed to use phones for education in their classrooms, depending what the class is, and free periods for school work and hot spotting,” she said.
“But at recess and lunch students are encouraged to put their phones away and you have to make the rule so it’s something teachers can actually enforce.”
Elsewhere on the north shore, parents of North Sydney Girls High School have been encouraged to limit the amount of data on their children’s phones to deter “screen time” during school hours.
In a letter to parents on September 25, Principal Megan Connors said she was concerned larger numbers of junior students, mostly in Year 7, were spending more time on phones during lunchtime breaks.
“Students are not able to access social media or gaming sites through our Department of Education wireless (which) has resulted in student’s hot-spotting from each other’s phones,” she said.
“If data was limited or software or parental controls placed on data usage, students would be encouraged to socialise, chat and play at lunchtimes.
“We will certainly speak to Year 7 at a year meeting however I ask parents to limit the data available to students.”
The ban at Chatswood High School comes after the Department of Education this year restricted all primary school students from using devices during class, recess and at lunch unless approved by a principal or teacher.
State-wide guidelines, however, allow secondary school students to use digital devices in school-related settings including at recess and lunch periods.
A Department of Education review into mobile phone use during school hours last year found devices can impact student learning, time management and personal safety.
The review also found devices had some benefits including access to information and improved digital literacy.
Across NSW, school staff are required to report incidents of inappropriate use of digital devices and online services to prevent any incidents and provide support where required.