The “href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-national-wants-to-ban-phone-use-at-school-to-fix-declining-achievement/Q42N2P6J7VCVRGG7C6HGEXAABA/">phones away for the day” policy was an election promise from the National Party last year. It was announced that all schools would have to enforce the ban by the beginning of term two.
Tauraroa Area School principal Grant Burns said the ban instead of aiding with learning has added to the list of things teachers have to enforce in the classroom, despite cellphones being a daily reality of living.
“To be able to manage use of the phone in a way that doesn’t impact your work is part of growing up and a really important aspect of 21st-century living.”
He believed the “fairly heavy-handed” approach had created logistical issues within his rural kura.
Burns said students use their phones for their timetables and most do not own a watch, so relied on their phones to tell the time.
A large majority of students catch the bus to and from school and not having use of their phones has made contacting parents difficult, he said.
“There’s any number of reasons why really significant travel arrangements may change during the day, and it’s [a text] much more efficient way than a message to the office.”
He said the ban had increased the workload for staff in the office and added that a “logistical nightmare” would likely ensue in the event of an unexpected closure.
Burns also took issue with the idea that the ban was aiming to reduce harm from social media, something he believed was occurring mostly outside school.
“It seems to be another example of the schools being held responsible to fix society’s issues,” he said.
He acknowledged the school had noticed an increase in students spending time outside during breaks and “kicking the ball around”.
“We have seen good levels of compliance and it’s nice to see students interacting more positively.”
Whangārei Girls’ High School principal Sonya Lockyer said that on the first day of term one, the school confiscated 23 phones.
Since then, students have “bought into the idea”, she said.
“When you wander around the school, they’re having conversations and playing games. They’re enjoying the freedom [of not being tied to a phone].”
“Before day one there was a wee bit of push-back [from students] but I think they’ve risen to the challenge.”
“One of the real things we’ve noticed is during break, there’s a lot more sports and play happening.”
He said the absence of phones has also minimised distraction in the classroom.
“When I speak to colleagues in Tai Tokerau, it has generally been a positive move.”
He said the ban was not an issue brought up to Education Minister Erica Stanford at a recent teaching conference - a telling revelation as to whether it had become an issue.
