Mobile phones contributing to poor school marks
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340489)
Rockingham, Australia
February 1, 2020 8:12am CST
I’ve written about staying at a Nepali B&B that is attached to an orphanage. The orphanage runs its own school as well as a mechanical engineering wing. There are 35 children living there but at the moment they have an extra 15. The latter aren’t orphans but children whose schoolwork is falling behind. Their parents have confiscated their mobile phones and sent them to the orphanage for additional tuition. I found that really interesting and a really great initiative on the part of the parents.
In Australia, the carrying of mobiles at school is coming under scrutiny with some schools attempting to bring in some rules to limit their use during school hours.
The photo shows Anita, Vince and Yugo at the entrance to the B&B. You can see part of the sign ‘Laxmi’s Bed and Breakfast’ in the background. Laxmi is Yugo’s mother who, together with her husband, first set up the orphanage. We met Laxmi who was busy dishing out 35 dinners to 35 hungry little children.
25 people like this
25 responses
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Feb 20
I totally believe this about mobiles. It is also affecting work productivity.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Feb 20
I know the high school my son and daughter went to has banned the use of mobile phones during school hours. Anyone caught with their phone out during school hours will have it confiscated by the school administrators. To get the phone back, the parents have to set up a conference with the dean. Continued violations will result in suspension from school, and ultimately expulsion of the behavior continues.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Feb 20
@JudyEv I agree, it does sound very sensible. I do know that school officials tend to "look the other way" at certain times throughout the school day. I'll often get text messages from my son during the lunch period.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340489)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb 20
@moffittjc Class breaks are a different issue I think.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (68230)
• United States
1 Feb 20
I completely agree. Kids probably think they don’t have to study because they can just look it up on Wikipedia.
The only calculator I was allowed in math class was either a slide rule or paper and pencil.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (106607)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Feb 20
We survived without a phone and kids today can too. I think they need to be locked away all day.
3 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
1 Feb 20
To me they are toys, they should not be in a school.
3 people like this
@much2say (55686)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Feb 20
Our school district has rules that kids cannot use their phones on campus during school hours - they must be put away or they will be confiscated. But it is another thing to enforce these rules ... especially for older kids . . . and some teachers of these older kids do allow kids to use their phones in class, for schoolwork they say. And then there is the issue before and after school . . . you see kids standing around with their heads down using their phones 
.
.2 people like this
@much2say (55686)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Feb 20
@JudyEv Rules must definitely be in place, but teachers or whomever also need to enforce these rules. Even my daughter says she sees other studends popping out their phones during class when they are not supposed to - the teacher does nothing in many cases.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30452)
• Corsham, England
3 Feb 20
At my granddaughter's school they are not allowed to use their phones during lesson time but they can during their breaks. At primary school they were not allowed to take them at all. I wonder if confiscating the phones has been beneficial or is it just the fact they are receiving additional tuition.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30452)
• Corsham, England
3 Feb 20
@JudyEv Yes well if it's working it is well worth it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340489)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Feb 20
@sprite1950 My thoughts exactly.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340489)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Feb 20
Everyone has an interesting story to tell. I'm glad you enjoyed reading about them.
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
1 Feb 20
great picture. we have a huge issue with mobile phones. My twins school bans them in the classroom.
i banned them at the dinner table!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340489)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb 20
@DocAndersen Buckley's chance means no chance at all. :)
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39268)
• Gouverneur, New York
1 Feb 20
As a retired teacher, I truly believe that while cell phones have their purpose they also have their downfalls. If parents were able to take away the cell phones and place their children in a place to help them with their schooling then maybe we would have so many illiterate people running around.
1 person likes this
