Kids to be safer under proposed school phone ban

Anti-bullying campaigners Kate and Tick Everett have thrown their support behind a proposal to ban mobile phones in Queensland schools.

Anti-bullying campaigners Kate and Tick Everett have thrown their support behind a proposal to ban mobile phones in Queensland schools, saying the move would help make children safer.

But they believe a ban alone won’t be a fix-all solution, arguing children need to be better educated on the safe and responsible use of technology.

The couple lost their 14-year-old daughter Dolly to suicide in 2018 after relentless bullying both in person and online from other students at her Queensland boarding school.

“The evidence linking mobile phone use with bullying is alarming and banning phones in schools would be a step in the right direction towards creating safer and more positive learning environments,” the Everetts said.

“While mobile phones can be useful educational tools, they also present a major distraction and can be used as a tool for harassment and cyber-bullying.

“A ban on mobile phones during school hours would eliminate the temptation for students to engage in inappropriate behaviour and allow them to focus on learning and engaging with their peers face-to-face.”

The state government has come under scrutiny for its failure to implement a ban on mobile phones in schools in line with other states and territories.

Tik and Kate Everett

Dolly Everett

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she is open to a ban but wants a nationally consistent approach.

Education Minister Grace Grace, who said she would discuss the issue with her federal counterparts, said principals already had the power to ban phones.

Ms Grace last week said a key reason Queensland had not followed suit was because an anti-cyber-bullying taskforce established after Dolly’s death had not supported it five years ago.

But members of the taskforce have since hit back, saying the landscape had now drastically changed and a phone ban urgently needs to be implemented.

“As Dolly’s parents we believe children have the right to attend school without the distraction of a mobile device, children should feel safe and included to allow them the opportunity to learn, after all our children go to school to learn not only on an academic level but also how to conduct themselves in a social setting,” the Everetts said.

After losing Dolly, Mr and Mrs Everett and their eldest daughter Meg established the Dolly’s Dream organisation which is dedicated to stamping out bullying and keeping children safe. The organisation delivers digital safety workshops and educational tools for schools and families and provides a free counselling service for those in need.

“We do think it is important to acknowledge that simply banning mobile phones is not a solution to the problem of bullying,” the Everetts said.

“We also need to focus on educating students on responsible online presence, including the impact of their behaviour online and how to report cyber-bullying.”

Originally published as Kids to be safer under proposed school phone ban