A smartphone free primary school
An educator told me that it's not a school's responsibility to advise against smartphones. That was the opposite of what I was arguing, but I couldn’t find the right words to convince him otherwise.
Last week I presented at the administrative office of the Hoeksche School for a small group of teachers and school leaders from our municipality. It was my first time talking to a group about A Smartphone Free Childhood. In about an hour and a half I went over my slide deck and answered questions. I was supported by two fellow parents, which helped a bunch. They would extend answers or explain things from another perspective. All in all the session was lively and well received.
One question, or rather a critique, I didn’t answer the way I wanted to. It was argued that it’s not the responsibility of schools to advise against smartphones under age 14. I pointed to the norm-shaping opportunities a school has, but felt that this argument didn’t land well. Nor should it have been the only argument.
Where it gets difficult for school leaders is in the definition of ‘smartphone free’. School leaders assume that by keeping smartphones out of the classroom, by means of putting phones in a basket outside the classrooms, they can call their school ‘smartphone free’. But that’s not enough: the smartphone should not even be carried to school. And even more so, schools should communicate about why they advise against smartphones.
The smartphone is a direct threat to the core tasks of a school by making it harder for children to learn, caused by poor sleep, concentration issues and decreased mental health. The list of problems around smartphones is evident.
Saying that it’s not the role of schools to advise against smartphones under age 14 is neglecting the negative impact it has on children’s ability to learn, and therefore on what you can achieve as an educator.
And yes, schools should also realize they have a unique position to shape norms. The norms set in school influence the norms in society.
I’m eagerly looking forward to presenting at the parents’ evening we’re organizing next month at the school of my children. Smartphones don’t belong in schools.