SEVERAL schools in a busy Irish town have committed to a bold new initiative that sees children banned from owning a smartphone.
The campaign, which aims to promote the well-being of local kids, will help parents delay from buying their child a smartphone while they’re still in primary school.
Several schools in Carndonagh, Co Donegal have so far began participating in the campaign.
The community-wide ‘No Smartphone Voluntary Agreement’ is supported by school principals and initially led by Home School Community Liaison Sinead McLaughlin and the Parents’ Association.
Scoil Naomh Pádraig, St. Patrick’s G.N.S, St. Brigid’s National School, Glassalts, Donagh National School and Glentogher National School are among the schools participating in the feat.
The move came after former Minister for Education Norma Foley launched the Government’s policy to encourage parents to avoid buying smartphones for primary school-aged children.
She told how the plan was “not a war on phones” and instead was designed to facilitate and encourage parents to collectively and voluntarily agree to hold off on buying smartphones for their children.
Home School Community Liaison Sinead McLaughlin said she thought the initiative would be very beneficial for the community.
She told Donegal Daily: “I thought it would be a great initiative for our local community, I liaised with the parents and supported the development of the initiative locally.
“As part of my role of HSCL, I regularly engage with parents on such topics and approached the parents association of Scoil Naomh Padraig to discuss the information pack.”
Foley previously drew a distinction between smartphones and regular phones when she outlined the campaign.
She said she understood why some parents may allow their children to have a regular phone because of safety concerns and so that they can keep in contact with them outside of school if needed.
Schools are reporting an increase in smartphones being given to children, some as young as seven or eight.
But a total of five schools in Carndonagh are currently participating in the voluntary agreement, with 297 parents opting into the choice to not provide a smartphone for their kids.
This figure represents 71 per cent of all the children from the five participating schools.
HOW DOES AGREEMENT WORK?
Foley said the use of smartphones was one of the issues always raised with her during visits to schools due to access they allow to inappropriate content and the risk of cyberbullying.
The voluntary no smartphone pact can see parents opt into the agreement by signing a commitment form provided by their school.
Every parent who signs the agreement is collectively agreeing not to buy smartphones for their child until at least the end of sixth class.
The agreement also aligns with the schools’ existing policies, which prohibit the use of mobile phones during school hours or on school premises.
And following additional guidelines from former Education Minister Norma Foley, Carndonagh Community School – a secondary school – has also introduced a ban on mobile phones.
In response to additional guidelines from Minister for Education, Norma Foley, Carndonagh Community School has also introduced a ban on mobile phones.
HOPES FOR INITIATIVE
In Co Louth, nearly 90 per cent of parents from four schools agreed not to give their children smartphones after they finish sixth class.
Last year in Co Wicklow, eight primary schools in Greystones and Delgany lead the way with a smartphone ban.
The schools announced that they were introducing a voluntary no smartphone code, with parents agreeing not buy a smartphone for their kids while they were still in primary school.
The initiative was introduced after principals, teachers and parents noticed a rise in anxiety in children.
Principal of St Patrick’s NS in Greystones Rachel Harper said: “I suppose the strength of this initiative is if everybody signs up to it, so it’s not just one school or two schools.
“If everybody signs up, we hope this is going to become the new norm for primary-age children.”
