Mobile phone ban in schools: Does it protect students or does it restrict?

Mobile phone ban in schools: Does it protect students or does it restrict?

In Austria there are efforts to discuss the mobile phone ban in schools and, if necessary, implement the recent studies of positive effects of such a ban on the social climate and the learning services of pupils. Education Councilor Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister (ÖVP) pleads for a "reasonable path in the middle", which combines a ban with a responsible mobile phone use. This is necessary to counter the challenges such as attention deficits, learning difficulties and even health problems, says Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP), as reported on noe.orf.at

In addition, research by the University of Augsburg has shown that schools that introduce a mobile phone ban can record measurable improvements in the concentration and social interaction of the students. In particular among young students, such a ban is considered necessary to reduce cyberbullying and create a safe learning environment. However, the scientists emphasize that a pure ban would do little if it is not combined with suitable educational measures that promote the media literacy of the students. Schoolchildren should not only benefit from the cell phone deprivation, but also convey learning and mobile phone use as an integrative component of the curriculum, as Tagesschau.de emphasized.

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