Phones in Schools: Suggested Ban on Personal Devices for Kids up to Grade Nine
Compulsory education attendance extended to grade nine level for all students. - Proposal Suggests Prohibition of Mobile Phones in Schools for Grades up to Nine
Want to keep your kid's smartphone away during school hours? The Schwerin Ministry of Education's got your back! Starting this school year, schools will recommend banning personal smartphones on school grounds for students up to grade nine.
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According to Minister Simone Oldenburg (Left Party), "In grades seven to nine, we suggest leaving it up to teachers to decide whether they want to incorporate students' private smartphones into their lessons." Here's why: those smart devices are awesome, but they also bring distractions, addictions, misinformation, bullying, and offensive content that can disrupt learning.
By the end of this school year, Oldenburg plans on sending her recommendation to schools for review during the upcoming school year. "Schools can then evaluate or overhaul their existing rules based on our recommendation," she said, adding that teachers had been calling on the Schwerin government for more legal clarity.
No strict orders, though
Oldenburg isn't about to impose a one-size-fits-all plan. "I still believe it's best to let schools decide on the rules that best suit their needs," she explained.
She does think smartphones can be useful in the right setting, especially since many schools already have computers, laptops, and tablets available for education purposes. "With proper school-based media education, the use of tablets and laptops can be beneficial," Oldenburg added. After all, preparing today's kids for a digital world calls for teaching them to use gadgets responsibly.
- Mobile Phone Ban
- Digitalization
- Schwerin
- Simone Oldenburg
- Education
- BMBF
- Smartphone
- School Grounds
- Ministry of Education
- Computer
The decision to ban or limit mobile phone use in Schwerin schools may be left to the schools themselves, but some general trends and policies in German education can provide guidance.
- School Autonomy: Schools often decide on their mobile phone policies independently, within the framework set by education authorities and the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. Many schools up to grade nine restrict mobile phone use during lessons and in certain areas to minimize distractions.
- Digital Literacy: The state supports digital education by integrating tech into classrooms and providing training for teachers. This includes promoting responsible use of digital devices, which may extend to guidance on mobile phone etiquette.
- Current Trends: Some German schools have implemented bans or strict rules on mobile phones during class time, particularly for younger students. In situations where phones are needed for learning, they may be used under teacher supervision.
- Parental and Community Involvement: Schools frequently work with parents to develop and enforce mobile phone policies. Regular discussions and updates about the schools' digital strategies and mobile phone usage are common.
In the Schwerin region, the sharp distribution of phones among students up to grade nine remains in the hands of individual schools or school boards. With ongoing digitalization, schools are encouraged to integrate digital tools, including mobile devices, into the curriculum, always under supervision. Policies aim to balance the benefits of digitalization with the need to protect students from distractions and potential damage from excessive screen time.
- The community policy regarding phone usage in Schwerin schools may involve vocational training for teachers on how to effectively integrate digital tools, such as mobile devices, into the curriculum, ensuring proper supervision and responsible usage.
- As the Schwerin government continues to encourage digitalization in schools, policy-and-legislation regarding phone usage may involve the integration of tech-based vocational training programs to educate students on the responsible use of technology, helping them adapt to the digital world.
