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French School Students To Be Banned From Using Mobile Phones (theguardian.com)
The lower house of parliament in France has passed what it called a "detox" law for a younger generation increasingly addicted to screens. As a result, French school students will be banned from using mobile phones anywhere on school grounds starting in September. The Guardian reports: The new law bans phone-use by children in school playgrounds, at breaktimes and anywhere on school premises. Legislation passed in 2010 already states children should not use phones in class. During a parliamentary debate, lawmakers from Macron's La Republique En Marche party said banning phones in schools meant all children now had a legal "right to disconnect" from digital pressures during their school day. Some in Macron's party had initially sought to go even further, arguing that adults should set an example and the the ban should be extended to all staff in schools, making teachers surrender their phones on arrival each morning. But Macron's education minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer, brushed this aside, saying it wasn't necessary to extend the ban to teachers and staff.
They're also a distraction in lectures/classes -- you retain a lot more if you're taking notes on paper and not browsing the Internet. Honestly, this should extend to all electronic devices like laptops and tablets unless there's an accommodation for a disability.
students will be banned from using mobile phones
...
a legal "right to disconnect"
Being forced to do something isn't a "right", unless you live in Oceania
I pass about 8 school grounds (covering all age groups)
Where I live (San Jose, CA) the elementary schools ban devices. They can be powered off in a backpack, but can't be turned on during school hours.
Middle schools and high schools are more permissive, banning only in-class use. At my daughter's high school, any student whose phone rings in class has to get up in front of the class and dance The Macarena. This is a surprisingly effective deterrent.
Little known fact: there were no after-school activities before the advent of cell phones. That was indeed the technology that finally enabled them.
My daughter's school had a water main break & flooding. They canceled school in the middle of the day. Her ability to call me was a godsend!
Do you suffer from the delusion that that sort of thing never happened prior to mobile phones being widely available? Here is a hint. The SCHOOL called you instead. I know, right? You might actually have to talk to an adult!
Schools now can very easily send a blast message out to all parents via text or email. They also maintain call lists and other people have phones too. Your child would have survived just fine and worst case would have been bored for a few hours. Schools are well equipped to deal with this sort of thing.
But when we need to coordinate after-school activities, having a phone available for texting or calls is a godsend!
No it has become a crutch. It is not necessary. When I was school age I had no problem coordinating after school activities with my parents and I didn't get a mobile phone until I was 26. Your argument is specious.