GG Riva, Mon 9 Sep 06:11

"Ok so children using phones in school. My daughter is in S5. She is doing biology in class. She has a school issued Chromebook to assist with her studies.
She is doing plant biology. She needs to get information regarding plant reproduction. On she goes to her Chromebook. Whoops, apparently she can`t look up reproduction as it`s deemed unsuitable for school.
She asks the teacher to unblock but she can`t do it. They would have to contact the council as they set the parameters.
She goes on her mobile and hey presto she`s got the information. No issue.
That was just one of the issues.

Mobile phones if used properly in class are a benefit.

I remember at school that we weren`t allowed to use the new fangled calculators. Now they actually have a calculator exam.

Clearly the children shouldn`t be on their mobile using social media apps whilst in class but they do have their uses."

That`s an extreme example, moviescot. It`s the blatant misuse of smartphones in schools that governments in many European countries are trying to address. In your daughter`s situation, could the teacher not help out if her Chromebook was blocked, by using his/her own mobile device?

"During my school days those who wanted to be distracted wouldn`t want for finding something to distract them. For me it`s more in the playground or on the way to and from school that the smartphone, or rather the camera, becomes a problem. Any moment of embarrassment or humiliation (which as a youngster could be a whole array of seemingly unimportant things) can be recorded and posted for every one of their peers to see. In my day a handful of witnesses would see it and by the end of the week it would be forgotten about. Now the embarrassment is there forever to be used to taunt and bully. The youth of today have it far harder then any of us did."

You illustrate another example of the growing misuse of modern technology, TOWK. I don`t think there`s any way you can ban phone use outside the classroom. Educating children about the dangers and harm caused by thoughtless and irresponsible use of smartphones will get through to some kids, but there`s always those who are hard of thinking.....

As for your "those who want to be distracted" argument, surely limiting the distractions available is better than throwing in the towel? Misuse of smartphones is far and away the biggest distraction in classrooms today, according to former colleagues of mine. The issue needs to be tackled or it will only get worse.

moviescot, Mon 9 Sept 10:13

Imagine the cost of these Chromebooks to the school. And the constant need to upgrade and replace broken equipment.

Against almost every pupil having their own mobile to use at no cost to the school or council.

Use the money saved to get more and better teachers.

desparado, Mon 9 Sep 14:32

Topic Originator: Raymie the Legend like
Date: Mon 9 Sep 12:31

Kids can bring phones to school.

On entering a class for a lesson, phones are deposited on the teacher`s desk for the duration.

On leaving the lesson, kids pick up their phones and can send texts or make calls on their way to the next lesson

rinse and repeat



Exactly…..end of conversation……

GG Riva, Tue 10 Sep 06:41

Moviescot - thanks for taking the time to fully explain your daughter`s unfortunate experience with her chromebook. I had originally read it as a one-off, hence my "solution."

It is a very complex issue, and in attempting to eliminate the misuse of phones in class, various governments are resorting to a total ban. Obviously, allowing them to be used as an aid to classwork is as desirable as stopping their misuse. Surely, it should not be overly difficult for pupil`s to ask their teacher`s permission when the need is a genuine, educational reason? Pupil`s caught using their phones to indulge in unacceptable behaviour should then result in their phone being confiscated for the rest of that day and their patents informed if the offence was sufficiently serious.

veteraneastender, Tue 10 Sep 09:30

Talk about not living in the real world !!!
Then they came up with a censorship system to stop the kids using naughty words when searching.

veteraneastender, Tue 10 Sep 09:30
That soon came unstuck when a pupil was doing a research project on Wessex !!!

jake89, Tue 10 Sep 12:10

There`s quite rightly a duty of care to ensure young people are protected from inappropriate content, but it`s nigh on impossible to cover. I`d imagine searching some legitimate biology questions may trigger a few concerns but surely by high school it needs accepted that you can`t protect children from everything? If the response is to have them search on their personal device then how is it any different and how would they be protected?