Heads up Alliance launches petition for universal mobile phone ban as private sector schools drag feet
Studies continue to prove the benefits of phone bans in schools, but pockets of the private sector are still slow to act, with some warning it may be costing them enrolments.
The latest study to prove the benefits of mobile phone bans in schools found “significant” reductions in adolescents’ stress and negative emotions, but some private schools continue to allow students to use devices in the classroom.
Parents have united to push for a universal ban on mobiles in all school settings, with the founder of the Heads up Alliance sharing private schools’ resistance to bans may be costing them enrolments.
While some Catholic and independent schools led the way on bans initially, pockets of resistance are holding out among elite private schools.
Heads up Alliance founder Dany Elachi has organised a petition to make the ban universal, with nearly 5000 signatures by September 19.
“We’ve seen phones banned in all state public schools, but there are still pockets of Catholic and independent schools that haven't quite come on board,” Mr Elachi said.
“Anyone who attends a school with a well enforced policy of no phones know students are more attentive in class and therefore learning better.
“We’ve heard of parents taking their kids out of schools without a mobile phone ban and placing them in schools that do.
“It’s a no-brainer for other schools holding out to get on board.”
This masthead spoke to a secondary school teacher at a Catholic school in the Northern Territory that just implemented a ban in Term 3 this year.
“It felt like we were reading from a different playbook to the public schools,” the teacher said.
“We’re so glad to finally have the ban.
“It’s been a huge impact on students’ social interactions, behaviour and most of all learning.”
This masthead also spoke with a number of independent schools who still did not implement whole-school bans, with seniors exempted in most cases.
Representatives from the Independent School Association (ISA) and National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) conceded the benefits of reduced mobile phone access, but said the decision was ultimately up to schools to determine.
“Independent schools are often able to innovate and adapt in response to changes in community expectations and new evidence more easily,” ISA chief executive Graham Catt said.
“Some Independent schools, for example, were early adopters of mobile device use in classrooms, and have revised their policies to limit or ban use in response to feedback from teachers, parents, and emerging research.”
“While recognising the importance of policies which maximise the health and safety of students, a great hallmark of our Catholic schools is our engagement with parents and students at a community level to determine operational approaches which reflect their context and need,” an NCEC spokeswoman said.
“Implementation and enforcement practices are best constructed and led at the local level.”
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Originally published as Heads up Alliance launches petition for universal mobile phone ban as private sector schools drag feet
