Rules instead of bans: Using mobile phones sensibly at school

Should mobile phones generally be banned in the school environment? I think so: No! And I've already heard the comments on this stance: «It was obvious anyway that In Albon from Swisscom would see it that way!» But wait a minute, let me explain why it makes sense for your child and their future to use digital media responsibly at school.

Our young people are becoming increasingly poor at reading and writing - as the Pisa studies of recent years have shown. The reason for this seems easy to identify: the excessive use of smartphones. A ban, as is already in place in schools in France, the UK, the Netherlands and Italy, for example - with various exceptions and special regulations, of course - seems logical and obvious. The next step would then be a complete ban on mobile phones in public spaces, as was recently decreed in a small French village.

In Switzerland, in most cases it is up to the schools to decide whether and in what form they issue a ban. For me, that's the only approach that works. Mobile phones in schools can undoubtedly cause problems. Unregulated use disrupts lessons, and photos taken in changing rooms or toilets are highly problematic. On the other hand, Curriculum 21 stipulates that children and young people should learn how to use digital devices and work with them in class. Just as they will have to do on a daily basis later in their working lives.

Becoming media literate

Working with a smartphone or tablet should begin in middle school. At this age, most children use the device exclusively for private entertainment. If they learn at school that a mobile phone can also be used for useful things, this fundamentally changes their perception.

Anyone who thinks that a general ban will solve the problems is deluding themselves.

If bans actually have to be imposed, they should be integrated into the lessons. And not declared as prohibitions, but as rules. After all, children and young people can learn a lot from negative incidents - and the corresponding reactions to them. This is what is meant by media literacy and, in times of social media, fake news and cyberbullying, is important material that can be taught at school.

Anyone who thinks that a general ban will solve the problems is deluding themselves. We adults were taken by surprise by digital media and are now struggling to find the right path. This is also because we didn't have these rules and debates in our youth. Young adults who only came into contact with these influences at the age of 18 or 20 were unable to gain any practice in using digital devices in their youth. Anyone in favour of a large-scale, general ban is closing their eyes to reality. This is always a bad counsellor for sustainable solutions.