Smartphone-Free Initiative at Doncaster School Enhances Student Experience
A headteacher from Astrea Academy, located in Woodfields, Doncaster, has articulated that the recent ban on mobile phones is instrumental in allowing students to embrace their youth.
This secondary institution adopted a “smartphone-free” policy at the commencement of the academic year, aiming to foster an environment conducive to learning and interpersonal connections.
Principal David Scales expressed his “absolute delight” with the outcomes of this initiative, encouraging other educational establishments to consider a similar approach as this trend gains momentum.
Students have enthusiastically welcomed the change; one pupil, Sonum, remarked, “It’s a profoundly positive development, eliminating these unnecessary stress-inducers.”
She elaborated, stating, “When confronted with 200 messages and notifications, one can feel overwhelmed by the fear of missing out on something important. Academic life becomes significantly easier without that burden.”
Under this policy, students are required to surrender their mobile devices to staff upon arrival each day, with phones returned to them at the end of the school day.
“We prohibited mobile phones because we aspire for children to truly engage with each other, fostering friendships during breaks while minimizing distractions during lessons,” Mr. Scales explained.
He further emphasized, “Our concern extends to the impact that smartphones may have on young minds. This initiative was enacted for their well-being.”
Interestingly, studies indicate that students’ sleep patterns, classroom behavior, and overall phone usage remain comparable between schools with and without mobile restrictions.
Nonetheless, research concluded that prolonged engagement with smartphones and social media correlates with poorer performance in all aforementioned aspects.
‘Students Happier’
Reflecting on the school’s experience, Mr. Scales noted, “We observe that children exhibit increased calmness, enhanced learning, and diminished distractions.”
He added, “Students appear more content and are cultivating better friendships.”
Another student, Nenyasha, noted that the policy has resulted in “increased social time and interaction.”
Sonum asserted, “It’s fascinating to see more individuals engaging with one another, smiling and genuinely having fun instead of being fixated on their screens.”
“Social media has erected a significant barrier to genuine human interactions,” she concluded.
Audio caption: Doncaster school thrives with no phone rule
Source link: Bbc.com.
