Many of us have splashed out on a smart phone or gifted our child with an iPad in recent years, and while we may justify our decision on numerous grounds, it appears we may not have considered the possible ramifications.

According to school behaviour expert, Tom Bennett, children should not be allowed to own a smart phone until the age of 16 and only extenuating circumstances should justify their presence in a classroom.

Mr. Bennett's recommendations come following a government-commissioned review into the impact technology can have on a child's behaviour in a school setting.

Clarifying his point on the matter, Mr.Bennett explains: "I think smart phones in a classroom represent an enormous level of temptation for students, but that isn’t to say that I would ban them."
 


While accepting the need for such devices on certain occasions, he continued: "My personal recommendation is that schools think very cautiously and carefully before allowing them. I think the default should be that they are not allowed unless teachers invite them for some specific reason."

Acknowledging Mr. Bennett's insight into the issue, Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "​Smartphones are powerful technologies which most people use in their working lives therefore schools must teach young people to use them responsibly. How they do that is a professional judgement."

Dismissing the notion that schools aren't responsible for student's online safety, Mr. Bennet asserts: "Most parents would supervise in some way internet access for children, and I think it would be an absurd proposition to say that schools shouldn’t do that because we are looking after their safety."
 


While the presence of digital devices in the classroom can lead to considerable disruption, Mr. Bennett flags an even more worrying issue, saying: "People ask me, ‘When should I give my child a smart phone?’ and I say, ‘Whenever you’re comfortable with them viewing pornography’, because their curiosity will take them there."

"I don’t want children in playgrounds swapping pornographic pictures or pictures of horrific scenes or racist websites or whatever. I want to know roughly what they are looking at, and that includes in school," Mr. Bennett said.

While acknowledging that smart phones and other technological devices can be a matter of concern in some cases, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Christine Blower, insists their use has benefits, saying: "It is important to remember that technology, including the use of smartphones, can be part of successful teaching and learning strategies.”

The vast majority of schools have a policy on smart phones, but guidelines differ considerably from school to school.

What are your thoughts?

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