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Should mobile phones be banned in Moray schools?





Last week, Nairn Academy introduced a ban on the use of mobile phones on its grounds.

The school has enforced the measure in a bid to encourage face-to-face interactions and reduce distractions for its students.

Buckie High School.
Buckie High School.

From now on, pupils will have to leave their phones at home or switch them off and store them in their lockers or bags while on school grounds.

That means communication with parents or carers will go through the school’s office where necessary.

In Moray, Gordonstoun banned the use of mobile phones during the school day in 2017.

But Moray’s other secondary schools have not followed suit with Moray Council stating that an outright ban “does not appear to be appropriate or manageable”.

We posed the question to our readers: Should mobile phones be banned on school grounds in Moray?

Audrey Graham is in favour of banning them, stating that there is “no need” for them during the school day.

She said: “I don’t know how they can enforce it but parents need to take some responsibility for ensuring their kids are sticking to the rules.

“How did we manage to get through a school day without phones years ago?”

Colin McFarlane agreed, adding: “Get kids back into the art of conversation and not texting.

“Get them using their imagination and not glued to TikTok.

“The way people go on about mobile phones, you'd think there was never a time when they didn't exist.

“If you’re at school, you’re there to learn.”

Zara Jarvis said: “There’s no need for phones in school.

“Kids from the past managed without phones so I'm sure this generation will learn to live a few hours without it glued to their hands.

“Kids these days spend way too much time on their phones.”

Martin Stuart argues that a ban could not be effectively enforced even if schools wanted to.

He said: “What a complete waste of time.

“Strip searching pupils and the illegal confiscation of private property.

“It can’t be done and won’t work.”

Other readers argued in favour of allowing pupils to keep mobile phones on school grounds for safety reasons.

Sinead Austin said: “There are many good reasons to let them have their phones on them.

“If they live far away and are going to a friends or out or if they have skipped school they can be contacted and traced.

“Not allowing them in classes I agree with but they should be allowed to keep their phones.”

Alisha Brown said: “No absolutely not.

“I would feel much safer with my child being able to get in touch with me at any time of day, whether they are in school or not.

“If they don't feel safe I want them to get in touch with me.

“School is becoming a prison and more and more is being taken away from the parents.”

Claire Sim said argued that phones should be banned outright in primary schools but not in high schools.

She said: “In high school some children need their phones for paying for snacks/lunch and even some teachers tell them just to go on their phones to look up things. They also need them for bus times.

“Some children with additional needs or who are getting bullied need them to phone parents.

“So yes ban for in school but not out.

“But in school phones should never of been allowed but unfortunately some teachers let them on it and then the next gets abuse for not letting them on it.”

Others advocated for a ban in classrooms but not on school grounds.

David Ewen said: “Like it or not technology such as mobile smartphones are now part of modern society.

“This isn’t a full ban, but rather a ban on phone use in grounds. Pupils can still have a mobile on them but switched off in a bag or locker.

“Having said that my opinion is a ban on use in school grounds, no but a ban on use in class, yes.”


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