Teachers for nationwide ban on phones in classrooms
A large majority of the AObmembers in secondary education is in favor of a nationwide ban on mobile phones in the classroom. This is according to a survey among more than 8000 AObmembers.
'Are you in favor of a nationwide ban on cell phones in the classroom set by the government?' AOb presented to its members. The answer of the majority of the almost 8400 respondents was: yes. In primary education this concerns a narrow majority of the members (54 percent), in MBO a larger majority (57 percent) and in secondary education a very large majority. In the latter sector, no less than 73 percent of members want a nationwide ban on mobile phones in the classroom.
It is a good thing if the elaboration of such a ban leaves room for customization per school
“An obvious result,” says AObdirector Jelmer Evers of the secondary education sector. “Our teachers notice that mobile phones in the classroom have a very negative effect on the concentration of the students. And therefore on the effectiveness of the lesson.”
Of the members in secondary education who voted against a national ban, 21 percent would prefer to make agreements about mobile phones in the classroom per school or per teaching team. And 6 percent of the members want to decide for themselves.
Autonomy
The question is how far such a national ban should go. Evers: “We spent a long time there with our sector council secondary education discussed. There is, of course, a tension between a nationwide ban and professional autonomy of the teacher. Should you ban cell phones in the entire school? Or are the students allowed to take them to school, but do the phones have to be put in the lockers there? It is a good thing if the elaboration of such a ban leaves room for such customization per school. But the line is clear: a majority of our members want those phones out of the classroom.”
Primary school
In primary education, members are divided on the need for a nationwide ban. In this sector, 54 percent voted in favor – a narrow majority. “In conversations we had based on the survey results, it appears that there is a large group of colleagues who realize that the telephone can be a major nuisance for children in a primary school,” says AObdirector Thijs Roovers.
In addition, according to Roovers, a large group of members indicate that there are currently no problems with telephones. "But that it is important to make good school agreements about this - which everyone then adheres to. There are also colleagues who believe that a national ban is difficult to enforce, and there are members who see the mobile phone as a enrichment."
In short, in primary education the opinion about a national ban is not a foregone conclusion, says Roovers. “We will have to continue the conversation about this in the coming period.”
In secondary vocational education, students often need the telephone for the two-step verification of the school network
In MBO, 57 percent of members are in favor of a national ban. “We also see in MBO that mobile phones have a negative effect on the concentration of students,” says AObdirector Henrik de Moel. “But in terms of prohibition, the situation in secondary vocational education is a bit more complicated. This is mainly because the vast majority of MBO students are of age. In addition, many schools use telephones for e.g two-step verification of the school network.”
Elderly
What is striking about the survey is that in all sectors both older and younger AObMembers vote for a ban on mobile phones in class. The number of older proponents of a ban is even slightly lower than the number of younger proponents, who grew up with mobile phones themselves. Because of members older than 51 years, 62 percent want mobile phones out of the classroom. And of members under the age of 31, 69 percent are in favor of a nationwide ban.
Boards
It is also striking that school boards are somewhat more reserved about a national ban than teachers and support staff. Measured across all sectors, 52 percent of school boards are in favor of such a ban, the rest of the school boards would prefer to arrange it themselves, at their own school.
The survey of the AOb is also input for a round table discussion in the House of Representatives about mobile telephones at school. That meeting will take place next week.
A total of 8382 members completed the survey, of which 2190 worked in primary education (including SBO, SO and VSO), 5070 in secondary education (including practical education and VAVO) and 1122 in MBO. 85% of the respondents are teachers, 6% are in leadership / management and 9% are part of the support staff.
Read more:
- Ban on mobile phones should increase concentration
- 'School should have a policy for mobile phones in the classroom'
