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Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham wants phones kept out of classrooms, calling them a distraction and “platform for bullying”.

The death of 14-year-old Amy “Dolly” Everett has really put the spotlight on the issue of access to social media and the harm it causes.

“There’s almost no reason students shouldn’t have their phones switched off and in their lockers while they’re at school,” Senator Birmingham told News Corp today.

“Although learning to work with technology is essential, phones can be a distraction from lessons and a platform for bullying unless schools have the right policies in place.”

Kids are using phones at school to photograph classmates in change rooms, watch pornography and send suicide taunts.

“Cyber cop’’ Susan McLean yesterday demanded a ban on phones in schools, warning that schools risk being sued by the parents of cyber-bullying victims over messages sent in school hours.

“I am seeing the most violent, vulgar, horrible comments you can imagine,’’ she told The Sunday Telegraph.

“Schools risk being sued by parents over their failure to provide a safe place for students, both online and offline,’’ she said.

France’s education minister recently announced that mobile phones will be banned from primary, junior, and middle schools, calling it a matter of “public health.”

I am totally behind this move!

Do you think schools should ban all mobile phone use?

Share your comments below.

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  • Totally need to be handed in at the start of the school day and given back at the end. It drives Teachers crazy and takes them away from what they really should be doing…teaching! Worst part is, so many parents don’t care and won’t support the Teachers in fixing the problem. Some kids even have an old phone they use for the purpose of handing in and sneakily have their real phone still with them.

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  • They should never have been allowed in the school/class room in the first place. Children will take any distraction rather than listen to their teacher and learn.

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  • If they have to take them to school they should be locked and left in the school’s office until time to go home. If they need to be contacted urgently then they can be contacted through the office like it used to be done. I think it’s a great idea

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  • At some schools they have to hand them in at the office in the morning and collect them at the end of the day. I know one boy who has one for emergencies only and his parents have programed numbers for emergency use and no other numbers can be called on it. I’m not sure if it accepts calls from other numbers or not.

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  • Hallelujah!! You have no idea how prevalent the use of phones are in classrooms and the distraction they are. I’ve seen personally on social media what kids are doing in classes instead of learning – they’re videoing their friends and taking photos and posting them online. It’s quite clear they’re in class. How are they supposed to learn. Poor teachers trying to teach and for those kids who want to learn. I absolutely welcome this and it’s come not a minute too late.

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  • FULLY support this. I think it hasn’t come soon enough to be honest.

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  • Best idea I HAVE HEARD in a long time.

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  • Yes I definitely think they should be banned from schools.

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  • I agree with the ban from schools and also workplaces when children and adults should be working and not checking phones!

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  • I think mobile phone should be banned from the classroom and locked into lockers during the day. There is no reason why a child has to be in touch with social media whilst they are at school. If there is an issue and parents need to contact the child this can be done through the office.

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  • I agree, no phones at school. My daughter started High School this year and wanted a phone, I have not gotten her one nor will I. No real need I think.

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  • Yes I think mobile phones should be banned from schools.

    My Daughter’s High School does not allow students to have their phone on them at all during school hours. If students need a phone for security before and after school they must hand it in to the Admin Office as soon as they arrive at school and pick it up after 3pm. If any student that does not hand their phone in and are caught using them during class or even at lunch breaks, the phone is confiscated until and taken to the Admin Office for collection at 3pm.
    Although I agree with this practice it does not stop cyber bullying as it can happen at anytime whether they have their phone or not. My Daughter’s friend was bullied through a social app and it continued at school to the point that her Parents were going to move to another school.

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  • Yes, I think they should be banned from classrooms.

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  • Yes..my year 12 student was sending over 400 texts every school day to his girlfriend at another school

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  • Yes! They should do that as soon as possible!

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