More than a year after the statewide mobile phone ban was introduced in schools, new data has shown some positive outcomes, with reports suggesting that student focus has increased and phone-related incidents have significantly decreased.
Campbelltown North Public School teacher Kylie Martin has expressed her support for the ban from the initial announcement.
“I’ve seen how phones can create distractions, fuel social issues and impact student engagement at the high school level, so I welcomed the consistency the ban introduced across schools,” Ms Martin said.
In 2018, data was collected from the New South Wales Department of Education, where students completed a survey on the main issues that young people encounter.
The data suggests that the primary issue students face is excessive time spent on social media, with mental health concerns and cyberbullying also being significant challenges.
Since the ban was introduced, promising data has emerged, with principals reporting noticeable improvements across various areas of school life.
These findings highlight the key areas of improvement: better learning, fewer distractions and increased social interactions among students in the playground.
Classroom teachers too, have noticed the positive impact that followed the introduction of the ban.
“Many of them are highly influenced by social media trends and conversations, which often spill over into the classroom or playground,” Ms Martin said.
“In just 18 months, we have seen a decline in behavioural incidents, cyber-bullying and a reassuring increase in focus and attendance.”