(From the Daily Telegraph 10th May 2012:)
"Sir Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of the education watchdog, said disruption during lesson times was often down to the use of mobiles and that the issue had to be stamped out. In an interview yesterday, the former headmaster revealed a tough new inspection regime would be introduced in schools from next term.
Under the reforms, schools risk being marked down for failing to tackle persistent interruptions such as text messaging, receiving calls and surfing the web on their phones. Referring to his decision to ban mobiles while head of the Mossbourne Academy in Hackney, east London, Sir Michael said: “It certainly cut out all that nonsense that you have in schools of these things being brought in and then a mobile phone going off in a lesson." 1
Is a blanket ban facing the issue head on and looking for creative and enriching ways to cope with digital technology or is Wilshaw merely putting his head in the sand hoping that all this horrible techie stuff will just go away and we can all go back to quills and parchment? It is interesting to note that Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education refers to Wilshaw as "my hero." One would hope that if hand held technology could be used productively during a lesson in which learners were actively engaged, there would be less inclination (and time) to send texts, make calls or surf for porn. Curiously, Sir Michael's views seem a little out of kilter with the findings of his own organisation's report in February, 2010 in which it argues that in schools getting to grips with digital technologies and pursuing holisitc whole school e-policies involving all stakeholders from consultation to fruition, pupils are learning to assess and avoid risk and use digital technology in a productive way:
"The headteacher decided not to have a coordinator for ICT. Instead, the staff accepted collective responsibility for all aspects of ICT, including e-safety. Consequently, ownership was strong and e-safety pervaded a rich ICT curriculum. Good ideas, experiences and resources were shared, and consistent practice reflected the vision which the headteacher promoted. While safety was paramount, there was a clear drive to ‘create polite online citizens’ and to provide pupils with the skills to cope with and manage risk. " 2
Steve Wheeler aptly sums it up in his blog:
"The fact is, many schools are already harnessing the creative potential of mobile phones to inspire and engage students, both inside and outside the classroom. It's also a fact that in schools where mobile phones are banned, many students continue to use them, and often for disruptive purposes. Where schools do allow mobiles as a part of their daily learning activities, the devices come out into the open, are no longer illicit, and can then be better controlled and used purposefully as a part of lessons. Which ever way we examine this issue, mobile phones are now a ubiquitous part in society, and are already playing a huge role in the culture of modern living. Simply attempting to ban them from a place young people regularly gather is an impossible task. Schools should instead consider ways that mobile devices can be used to enhance and enrich learning, for in so doing, we prepare our children for the future, instead of rooting them in the practices of the past." 3
Steve Wheeler aptly sums it up in his blog:
"The fact is, many schools are already harnessing the creative potential of mobile phones to inspire and engage students, both inside and outside the classroom. It's also a fact that in schools where mobile phones are banned, many students continue to use them, and often for disruptive purposes. Where schools do allow mobiles as a part of their daily learning activities, the devices come out into the open, are no longer illicit, and can then be better controlled and used purposefully as a part of lessons. Which ever way we examine this issue, mobile phones are now a ubiquitous part in society, and are already playing a huge role in the culture of modern living. Simply attempting to ban them from a place young people regularly gather is an impossible task. Schools should instead consider ways that mobile devices can be used to enhance and enrich learning, for in so doing, we prepare our children for the future, instead of rooting them in the practices of the past." 3
The Department for Education fudges the issue. A Department for Education spokesman said:
“Parents should take responsibility for whether or not their children have phones in the first place. It is up to individual head teachers to decide if and when mobile phones should be used by pupils in school.” 4
However, it is clear from comments following such newspaper articles that not all agree with Wilshaw's stance. In view of the distances and sometimes multiple modes of transport used by some children to get to school, some parents regard equipping their child with a mobile phone as essential. Dispiritingly, despite signing home-school contracts there remain parents who will not support the school if their child's phone is confiscated on the grounds that their child "needs it" or, my personal favourite, "I've paid for the monthly contract." (In my own experience incidents arising from the confiscation of phones does little to nuture home school relationships and never fails to sour proceedings when one is confiscated during the lesson.)
There are those who are willing consider the possibilities of digital technology and handheld devices in schools. With regard to Wilshaw's position, one contributor comments:
“Parents should take responsibility for whether or not their children have phones in the first place. It is up to individual head teachers to decide if and when mobile phones should be used by pupils in school.” 4
However, it is clear from comments following such newspaper articles that not all agree with Wilshaw's stance. In view of the distances and sometimes multiple modes of transport used by some children to get to school, some parents regard equipping their child with a mobile phone as essential. Dispiritingly, despite signing home-school contracts there remain parents who will not support the school if their child's phone is confiscated on the grounds that their child "needs it" or, my personal favourite, "I've paid for the monthly contract." (In my own experience incidents arising from the confiscation of phones does little to nuture home school relationships and never fails to sour proceedings when one is confiscated during the lesson.)
There are those who are willing consider the possibilities of digital technology and handheld devices in schools. With regard to Wilshaw's position, one contributor comments:
"Short sighted and old fashioned, next it will be let's ban the Internet in schools? The way we communicate and connect to the world is becoming more and more mobile, and mobiles should be allowed in the classroom if the school culture is right and teachers embrace them, we are there to educate, lets educate students the appropriate use of the devices? Mobiles can be used as learning tools and we should prepare students for the 'real' world. I think some people are missing the point and need to see the added value they bring to the classroom. There is no doubt you need policies and AUP and more importently parent support but let's move with the times you only need to look at business now to see the use of personal devices being used for work..." 5
A tweeter tweets:
A tweeter tweets:
"Why don't schools turn this on it's head and use mobiles to engage young people rather than banning them?" 6
Hmmmmmm.....food for thought, perhaps Sir Michael needs to explore the potential of digital technology in greater depth before proposing draconian measures?
"A perfection of means and confusion of aims, seems to be our main problem."
- Albert Einstein.
1: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/9256102/Pupils-face-classroom-mobile-phone-ban.html
2: Ofsted February 2010: The Safe Use of New Technologi
3: Learning with e's. http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=wilshaw#!/2012/05/trying-to-stop-tide.html
4: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/9256102/Pupils-face-classroom-mobile-phone-ban.html
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