WIMMERA principals have different approaches when it comes to using mobile phones at school.
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Horsham’s Holy Trinity Lutheran College and Stawell Secondary College have a ‘not in the classroom’ rule, but students are able to use them during breaks.
Ararat’s Marian College has a flexible policy where mobile phones could be used on a case-by-case basis at the teacher’s discretion, whereas, Murtoa College does not allow the use of phones during school hours.
Not in the classroom
Students of Holy Trinity Lutheran College and Stawell Secondary College can use mobile phones at breaks.
Holy Trinity Lutheran College principal Daniel Weller said the school reviewed its policy frequently to ensure it fits with current practices and expectations.
“We need to constantly tweak our current views on how mobile phones are used,” he said. “We need to see what other schools are doing in this space and ensure we can get the best outcomes for our students.”
Mr Weller said the school has its “finger on the pulse” to understand what the students needs are.
“That’s important in a school setting so, we can ensure quality learning takes place and other influences don’t diminish what we are trying to achieve,” he said.
“I don’t believe a child on a mobile phone in a recess or lunch break could possible do that.
“We do listen to the students, but we also look at what others are doing to get the best result.”
Mr Weller said technology was a means to support learning and was incorporated in the classroom when required.
“As students get older we use different platforms to provide information so they have access in and out of school,” he said.
Stawell Secondary College’s policy has been in place since term four last year, but before then, students could use mobile phones in certain situations.
Principal Kevin O’Neil said the old approach required too much time monitoring phone use in class, which detracted from learning time.
Before coming to its current policy, Mr O’Neil said the school enforced a “harsher” policy where mobile phones were banned during school hours.
Students are overwhelmed with receiving messages in their pockets and feeling anxious to reply straight away.
- Kevin O'Neil
“The students told us they thought we went too far,” Mr O’Neil said. “Our focus should be on the classroom and we modified the policy accordingly. It is supported by students because they understand why it is there.”
Mr O’Neil said school should be a “restbite” for students who are bombarded with social media.
“Students are overwhelmed with receiving messages in their pockets and feeling anxious to reply straight away,” he said.
“The time spent in a classroom is limited and precious and we don’t want to waste that time at all.”
Hard-and-fast approach
Murtoa College students have an understanding that mobile phones will be confiscated when teachers see the device.
Principal Tony Goodwin said the school enacts the policy when needed, but teachers hoped “come sense prevails”.
Mr Goodwin said the challenge was that mobile phones play a big role in the student’s lives, but there was no straight-forward answer to productively incorporate them into education.
He said the college was open to change once a solution was found, however, they will not “led the charge” to find a fix.
“The sooner we work out a solution where the phone can be apart of (the classroom) the better off we are going to be,” he said.
The sooner we work out a solution where the phone can be apart of (the classroom) the better off we are going to be.
- Tony Goodwin
“We think we can offer more if you’re not connected to it all the time, but once they get back to the classroom every student is logging on to an electronic device – they’re our world.”
In the meantime, Mr Goodwin said the school will educate students about the pitfalls of social media.
“We know the best way to change perceptions is to educate them and let them make that decision,” he said.
Case-by-case basis
Marian College has a flexible policy for mobile phones at school.
Head of learning and teaching Matthew Summers said the procedure has been in place for about five years and was set in a review cycle.
Mr Summers said the school’s approach allowed them to control which devices are used in the classroom, at what times.
“If the technology is useful, then it can be used, but if it is not required there are other means available for students and the mobile phones are given to the teacher,” he said.
Parents are mostly receptive to our approach. There are situations where parents want a different set of rules and procedures in place to meet their needs.
- Matthew Summers
Mr Summers said the policy has received a wide variety of response from students and parents.
“If we do a broad survey of the population we would find there is a large part of the population who see a dependency of mobile in young people,” he said. “Anecdotally, people have concerns with social media and the affects on kids in and out of school.
“Parents are mostly receptive to our approach. There are situations where parents want a different set of rules and procedures in place to meet their needs. But, we consistently approach it on a case-by-case basis.”
A student’s take on mobile phones
Mobile phones are not for the classroom
Holy Trinity Lutheran College school captain Josiah Mock believed that there was a time and place for a mobile phone, but school should be for education and to connect with peers.
Josiah said school gave students a chance to step away from their phones and not miss out on great experiences.
“I see a lot of people my age spending so much time on a phone and they don’t get the experiences they normally would. Less people are doing sport or volunteering for a musical because it is easier to sit down and play video games or get lost on YouTube,” he said.
At times school was not the easiest environment to connect with peers, but Josiah said mobile phones do not help the situation.
“There are always going to be students who want to be on their phones,” he said. “But, I think it is a great time to go outside and connect with others.
“It is easy to sit on a phone and only talk to your close friendship groups, but no phones gives us a chance to go out and kick a football. This is a great experience for students to have during school.”
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