Dutch political party CDA wants a national ban on mobile phones in schools (see related story). They cite research by Education Bureau DUO showing their presence leads to lower grades and affects language- as well as reading skills.
Particularly since the Christian Democrats are part of a governing coalition backing the Rutte IV Cabinet, this idea is likely to be at least seriously considered. Many schools in the Netherlands apparently already collect electronic devices or have them stored in lockers before classes on their own. Such inconsistency creates confusion, it was stated.
The party recognises that smartphones are occasionally used as teaching tools and to communicate schedule changes, etc., but reasons that – for example – iPads can also get the job done. Whatever advantages smartphones in classrooms give are outweighed by the “daily misery” they cause, according to CDA.
Moreover, teachers will no longer have to start every lesson by telling pupils to put their mobiles away. “Who knows, the children might even start talking to each other again during break time,” added Member of Parliament (MP) René Peters with a touch of cynicism.
Nevertheless, the point about possible negative impacts from mobiles in class is well-taken. It would be interesting to know the current relevant policies of the various schoolboards in St. Maarten.
CDA’s proposal to include secondary education might be a stretch certainly on the island, where not all teenagers and their parents would probably go along. There could be broader local support for the measure in primary schools, however, because younger kids are in a more vulnerable stage of their development.
Some may say all this seems like old-fashioned nonsense and unrealistic longing for “the good old days” that will never come back by rather conservative politicians in The Hague. They too have a point, especially in view of the vast learning opportunities offered on the Internet.
There are two sides to this argument, and both have merit.
