Minister pushes to have smartphones banned from schools
Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham wants smartphones banned from classrooms, saying they are a distraction and 'a platform for bullying'.
The recent death of 14-year-old Amy 'Dolly' Everett, a victim of cyber-bullying, has put the spotlight on the issue of access to social media and the harm it causes.
'There's almost no reason students shouldn't have their phones switched off and in their lockers while they're at school,' Senator Birmingham told News Corp.
'Although learning to work with technology is essential, phones can be a distraction from lessons and a platform for bullying unless schools have the right policies in place.'
Smartphones could be banned from schools in a push from the Federal Government
Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham (pictured) called for students to switch off their phones and leave them in their lockers
Child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg said no primary aged student should even own a smartphone.
Where youngsters required a mobile for 'security' reasons, they could be given a 'dumb phone', without any bells and whistles.
A recent study by KidsMatter reported 67 per cent of children aged 12 to 13 owned a mobile phone.
The group also found more than half of 10 to 11 year-olds had accessed the internet via a smart phone.
Amy 'Dolly' Everett (pictured) committed suicide aged just 14 last month after being bullied online
State Education Minister Susan Close backed Mr Birmingham's calls, and told News Corp South Australia would seriously consider the proposal.
Ms Close said the State Government would be considering it and consulting with teachers.
Meanwhile in Queensland, a spokesperson for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told the Courier Mail there were no plans to implement a ban.
'Decisions about the use of mobile phones during school hours are for the principal, in consultation with the school community,' they said.