The Reader: Phones can be smart for pupils: don’t rush to ban them in school

While the National Education Union agrees with the headteacher of Kingston Grammar School that mobile phones have many educational uses, for some heads and teachers, ensuring that phones are only being used for the purpose required of them in lessons could become a time-consuming issue [“School mobile phone bans are doomed to fail, says leading head” March 19].

This is so particularly at a time when class sizes are going up — and it is an issue that could cause more tension between staff and students than is necessary.

Smartphones can be a great resource for use in the classroom, and they are also a way of life for the majority of young people. We need to understand this and ensure in schools and colleges that our attitude and approach to their use is fair and balanced.

While most children and young people will use their smartphones responsibly, we know only too well that they can also be used as devices to bully or exclude others. It is therefore important that schools and colleges continue to ensure students are well informed about staying safe and respectful of others whenever and wherever they are online.

Ultimately though, as the Secretary of State said in the article, policies on the use of phones in schools should be a decision for individual headteachers.
Dr Mary Bousted​
Joint general secretary, National Education Union

EDITOR'S REPLY

Dear Mary

IT IS almost eight years since Ed Balls accidentally tweeted his own name, and he is still routinely mocked for it online.

Of course, Mr Balls takes it all on the chin — it was a hilarious and innocent blunder. But not all mistaken social media posts are.

That’s why I think it is so important that schools teach children how to use their smartphones and social media responsibly.

I agree that the last thing our hard-working teachers need is to spend time policing mobile phone use in schools.

But they do have a duty to help tackle both behavioural and health issues, whether that’s bullying, smoking or sex.

With cyber-bullying, sexting and mental-health issues rising among young people, I fear that blanket phone bans will push smartphone use under the radar — into school toilets and changing rooms.

Yes, any ban should be down to the individual headteacher, but normal and responsible smartphone use should be encouraged, rather than an attitude of “too busy, not our problem”.

Sophia Sleigh, City Hall reporter

End the stigma on Down Syndrome

Today is World Down Syndrome Day. Our three-year-old son, Theo, has Down Syndrome, and yet our lives — and his — are not what I originally feared.

The world is still scared of Down’s. No one would choose it for their unborn child, I get that, but you would choose for your baby the life you have made. We didn’t know until after Theo was born that he had an extra chromosome and I am so glad: we would not have our incredible little boy now.

It hurts to think that, as his parents, we might have judged his life and his worth before he had the chance to show us. Just from two words. Theo attends a standard nursery, he is nearly walking and he signs about 50 words — these are all such big achievements for him.

Theo does not suffer, and nor do we; we now experience life through a different lens flooded with gratitude, patience and admiration for a little boy who is far, far more than his diagnosis.
Claire Farrington