Delay in buying smartphones to children, school insists

A group of 49 schools in a boro of West Midlands sent letters to parents, which has been asked to “Ruk” before buying a smartphone for their children.

It is headed by Hedtekar Tom Beawrid at Aldurbrook School in Solihul, recently introduced a voluntary phone hand-in scheme for the year 7.

The group of more than half -year -old has handed over to their phones, some students told the BBC that they were already feeling “less stressed”.

By the age of 12, 97% of children have their own phones, according to the regulator.

Mr. Bearridge said that in recent years the school had seen some losses and wanted to take action with the use of excessive smartphones.

“When we see the events of the students ruthless or even bullying it is almost always connected to some form of online activity”, he said.

He said that the phone had an impact on the mental health of the students and even when kept in the bag or pocket, there was “distraction from learning”.

The school has bought mobile phone storage lockers, so students can store their phone safely during the year 7 years.

Mr. Bearridge said that when he introduced the plan just before Christmas, 10 students handed over to their phones.

Within a month, more than half -year -old group selected him to leave at the beginning of the day.

Among them, who said that she “feels better” and “less stressed” closed it in the classroom without worrying.

Another disciple, Elliot, said that his phone was “really great distraction” and he had chosen to hand over it, so he did not need to “think about it all day”.

At the beginning of the next school year, the plan will be mandatory for the year 7 and can also be rolled out for old year groups.

Mr. Bearridge said that Solihul’s headtechers wanted to take “collective action” on this issue, which is why he wrote a letter to the parents.

It is not about being negative about technology, he said, but about ensuring that everyone was aware of risks.

“Hopefully, there will be a social criteria early or later that to buy a smartphone, not young people are not at least 14, perhaps old.

“Then the parents will not get so much pressure,” he said.

But at the moment, parents, such as Afif Tafael, feel very pressure.

The mother has a son and daughter at the Aldbrook School in the year 7 and year 9.

He has “dumb” phones, but he said that he is worried about “left or standing out” to not be a smartphone.

He said that Mr. Beverj’s letter was “really assured”.

On Tuesday night, the school is hosting an evening information for 300 parents, where a panel of experts will explain the risks of excessive use of smartphones.

The speakers will be Harrott, in the sixth form of Alderbrook in 13 years.

She said that when she was 11 years old, she had a phone, described it as a “need”.

But the 17 -year -old said she was a “huge distraction” and said it was “crazy” that she had to use an app to lock her phone and all her apps when she was modifying.

He said that he also experienced the “deep side” of technology when a man gave him unfair pictures at the bus stop last year.

“As girls you have to deal with that extra pressure,” she said.

The event was partially organized by Claire Smith, Principal of the nearby Tudor Granj Academy, has been a phone-free school for many years.

The policy ensures that the students were safe, that they could socialize and play and they were not distracted by learning, Mrs. Smith said.

She said that she wanted to join the program for families and community to open talks beyond schools.

He said that parents felt the pressure of a colleague to buy a smartphone for their children as it was becoming an ideal for them for them.

By sharing the stories about some risks, he said that he hoped that it will help them to make an educated option.