Wait Until 8th Grade!

Imagine a school where smartphones are banned from PreK to grade 8. Where school expect students to interact and play games with one another during break time and have face-to-face conversations about life. This is what schools should be about, human interaction and ongoing development and nurturing of the social and emotional learning (SEL). Instead, schools have been influenced by society to allow smartphones in school. As a result, the addiction to smartphone use is causing numerous issues such as poor focus, improper brain development, low attention spans, and an inability to regulate emotions. Additionally, bullying bravado has escalated to a point where students have developed social and emotional learning (SEL) deficiencies.

The Journal of the American Medical Association showed that more than 90 percent supported restricting students’ cell phones in school and 86 percent believed it harmed academic performance. Parents, teachers, and principals who favor banning smartphones in classrooms argue they distract students and diminish focus, can provide students access to questionable content, increase cyberbullying and other disciplinary issues, create physical and mental health issues, encourage cheating and potentially expose children to sexual predators. 

The entertainment business understands that smartphones open the door to extreme distraction, copyright violations, and misuse and misinterpretation of content. Comedians have a strict phone free policy. Dave Chappelle who snagged the No. 6 spot on Pollster’s Top 10 Highest-Grossing Comedy Tours list between September 16, 2021 and Sept 15, 2022 with gross revenue of $21,499,305.50 and 185,015 tickets sold, seems sold on phone-free performances. If Phone-free events mean fewer intellectual property challenges, improved performances and experiences, and enhanced comedy development. Why can’t schools do the same?

Cell Phone Bans Nationally

Several countries have implemented national bans on cell phone use in schools due to concerns about their impact on student learning and well-being. Those that have banned them include France, which introduced the measure in 2018. This ban applies to primary and middle schools, preventing students from using phones during the school day. Italy, where teachers collect students’ smartphones at the beginning of the day, to ensure students are not distracted during lessons. Portugal has implemented similar restrictions, banning smartphone use in schools to promote better concentration and learning environments. Spain has taken steps to remove smartphones from schools, improving student behavior and focus. Recently, the UK announced a ban on smartphones in schools across England. This policy aims to improve student behavior and reduce distractions both during class and break times. China introduced regulations to ban the use of smartphones in classrooms in 2021. The aim is to reduce distractions and focus on improving student performance. Finland, and the Netherlands, plan to introduce the ban this year, though they have previously taken measures to limit phone use in schools. While not a complete ban, Finnish school's today have policies to control and restrict phone usage during class times.

What Research Is Showing and Suggesting

A new UNESCO report warns against the overuse of technology like smartphones and computers in education, saying that the benefits they bring disappear when they’re used in excess or without the guidance of a teacher. Manos Antoninis  Director of the Report stated that “We need to teach children to live both with and without technology; to take what they need from the abundance of information, but to ignore what is not necessary; to let technology support, but never supplant human interactions in teaching and learning.”

More researchers are sounding the alarm about giving young children smartphones, and there is a growing parental movement called "Wait until 8th" to help children get their childhood back by keeping them away from middle schoolers. Social Psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of "The Anxious Generation," wants parents to embrace Four New "Norms" while raising children:

• No smartphones before high school

• No social media before 16

• Phone-free schools

• More independence, free play, and responsibility in the real world  
  

Today the digital revolution holds immeasurable potential but, just as warnings have been voiced for how it should be regulated in society, similar attention must be paid to the way it is used in education. What we know is that the average amount of time primary and middle school students spend on their phones varies. According to Common Sense Media, as of 2021, children aged 8-12 spend an average of 4 hours and 44 minutes per day on screen media, while teenagers aged 13-18 spend about 7 hours and 22 minutes daily. This includes time spent on phones, computers, tablets, and watching TV, but a significant portion is attributed to smartphone use. This leads me to wonder: if surgeon generals and society are voicing warnings, why are schools not limiting or banning smartphones? Why are they not requiring students to build their reading skills, play, and interact with their schoolmates instead of viewing and implementing more screen media within the classroom?

Focus On Strengthening Human Interaction and Communication

As a founding school leader, I stand with the statement Manos Antoninis (Director of UNESCO Report) that "schools have the responsibility to teach children to live both with and without technology; to take what they need from the abundance of information, but to ignore what is not necessary; to let technology support, but never supplant human interactions in teaching and learning.” Let’s learn from the COVID pandemic mistakes. The pandemic accelerated the technological revolution in the classroom, forcing millions of students worldwide to transition to online learning. I saw and experienced first-hand the results of what excessive exposure to technology did to teachers, students and parents. In the past 20 years, paper has been replaced with screens in many classrooms. This progressive move was necessary for continuity of education. Fortunately, the pandemic has also highlighted the urgent need to balance technology use with traditional learning methods to support students' overall development and well-being.

As I reflect back on my previous public/private-school experiences, budget resources spent on technology should have been focused on classrooms, teachers, and textbooks for all children in low and lower-middle-income countries lacking access to these resources, so that they too can reach universal secondary schooling and minimum learning competencies. 

Steps Towards Human Interaction

Schools, both new and established, should prioritize the safety and social-emotional learning (SEL) of their students. It is imperative for these educational institutions to start by limiting, and eventually banning, the use of smartphones and personal electronic devices. Schools, parents, and stakeholders need to reach a consensus on what is necessary from technology, how to integrate digital devices into the curriculum, and why this integration can enhance learning. Establishing clear guidelines and objectives will ensure that technology is used effectively and responsibly in educational settings. Furthermore, understanding the potential benefits and drawbacks of technology in the classroom will help create a balanced approach that supports students' academic growth and social-emotional development. By working together, these groups can create a cohesive strategy that maximizes the positive impact of technology while minimizing its risks.

When schools begin to take these steps to decrease and/or eliminate smartphone use overtime of 4- 6 weeks, these changes will reveal:

• reduction of bully incidents

• reduction of stress, anxiety, and behavior outbreaks students experience in school,

• consistent exposure to reading and verbal interaction correlates with expanded vocabulary and heightened literacy proficiency,

• rewiring of the brain allows for a shift to more focused creative and intuitive thinking will evolve. 

• Eliminating the connection to electronics frees up more time to connect with family and friends. 
  

All too often students miss out on the fun and beauty happening around them because of screens. Having this human interaction of connections with others can help ward off symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety for all stakeholders in education.

If you want to take the next step to create strong human interaction with your school, Let International Educational Consultants help you implement the necessary steps to eliminate or ban personal devices in your school. Leverage the expertise of International Educational Consultants to in addressing your school policy and overcoming challenges of day-to-day implementation. We offer consulting services, policy development and implementation, webinar training sessions, and face to face workshops. Connect with us.