From the Principal
Changes to Our Approach to Mobile Phones during School Hours
I’m sure most of our parents have been exposed to the debate surrounding the use of mobile phones in schools. Many schools across Victoria have taken the decision to ban the use of mobile phones at school. Across many states in Australia, education departments have made the difficult decision to ban the use of mobile phones during school hours unless the phone is being used for educational purposes.
There are many reasons put forth for banning the use of mobile phones at school with the most compelling one being the promotion of improved academic outcomes and a decrease in cyber bullying. Studies have found that banning mobile phones has led to an increase in student performance.
A study in 2015 paper used a method — called a difference-in-difference strategy — as well as student data from England to investigate the effect of banning mobile phones on student performance. In this method, researchers compared schools that have had phones removed to similar schools with no phone bans. This allowed them to isolate the effect of mobile phones on student performance from other factors that could affect performance.
The study found banning mobile phones at school leads to an increase in student performance. The results suggest that after schools banned mobile phones, test scores of students aged 16 increased by 6.4% of a standard deviation. This is equivalent to adding five days to the school year or an additional hour a week.
The effects were twice as large for low-achieving students, and the study found no impact on high achieving students. The results suggest low-performing students are more likely to be distracted by the presence of mobile phones, while high performing students can focus with or without mobile phones.
Recent studies from Spain and Norway, using a similar empirical strategy, also show compelling evidence on the benefit of banning mobile phones on student performance, with similar effect size.
In Spain, banning mobile phones has been shown to increase students’ scores in Math and Science. Researchers also documented a decrease in incidences of bullying.
In Norway, banning phones significantly increased middle school students’ grade point average. It also increased students’ likelihood of attending an academic High School rather than choosing a vocational school. And it decreased incidents of bullying.
Schools that already have a ban in place are reporting a huge improvement in students' social interaction at lunchtime and fewer distractions to learning when in the classroom.
Banning the use of mobile phones during school hours helps us to limit the negative impact from inappropriate use and reduces unnecessary distractions in classrooms to help both teachers and students focus on learning. It also encourages students to use breaks as quality time away from screens.
The psychological literature also sheds light on the potential mechanisms as to why mobile phones and other technology in school might affect student performance. This literature finds multitasking is detrimental to learning and task execution. Many recent experimental papers present evidence mobile phone use while executing another task decreases learning and task completion.
It is clear from research that the banning of mobile phones during school hours brings with it a great many benefits for student learning and social interaction. From the beginning of 2024, Lakeside College will implement a ban on mobile phones during school hours for all students in Year 7 to Year 12. The College has decided to invest in wall mounted mobile phone stations that will be locked during the day and inaccessible to students. This measure has been put in place to curb the unnecessary and inappropriate use of mobile phones during the school day. Students will be able to place their phone in a secure mobile phone station at the start of the day and collect it just before 3:00pm each day.
We completely understand that this is a significant change to our current approach to the use of mobile phones at school, but believe the long-term academic, social and wellbeing benefits of adopting this process will benefit our entire community.
The Vine and the Branches John 15: 1-17
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. John 15: 10 - 17
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
17 This is my command: Love each other.
I recently read this passage from John’s gospel at a morning devotion. The passage is full of beautiful metaphors with the one clear message - our relationship with God is one that should be constantly nurtured.
While physical fruit is appealing and satisfying to man’s flesh, it pales in comparison to the deep beauty of the spiritual fruit that can be produced in the life of a Christian. How is it that such fruit comes in the life of a follower of Christ? Because a Christian enjoys a link with God through Christ, that makes it all possible. You are somebody if you are in Christ because you are a branch of Christ, the vine. In John 15:1–10, we find a wondrous description of the relationship between the Savior and the saved. Christ compared the relationship to that of a vine and its branches. This comparison helps us to understand better our tie to Christ, the need to work to keep the tie strong, and the results of the tie. Christ is our lifeline. Just as a branch receives its nutrients and moisture from the soil through the vine, the Christian draws his spiritual nourishment through Christ.
As branches, we have an important responsibility in maintaining this connection to Christ. The Lord, in verse 4, commands His followers to abide in Him. How can this be done? Verse 10 tells us that if we keep Christ’s commandments we will abide in His love. The principles, the standards, the instructions found in the New Testament are the key to abiding in Christ. If our life is in harmony with them, our lifeline to Christ will be open and strong.
Blessings
Mr Robert Tassoni
Principal