Neither iPhone nor Android. Not even cell phones from the pre-smartphone era. We attended a debate on the use of cell phones in classrooms by minors. Everyone has their arguments for or against, but the only certainty is that it is a subject which has exploded and which is already beginning to be regulated.
Two of the pioneers are Galicia and the Region of Murcia, which have already announced a new protocol that will come into force this Monday, January 8 and that in a way it is a pilot project. The idea is that it will be used to create regulation at the national level, either in a similar way or with changes to what has currently been announced.
The use of smartphones will not be permitted even during breaks.
Decree 8/2015 was issued almost ten years ago to improve Law 4/2011, which regulates everything related to coexistence and participation in school. In it, smartphone use was already restricted nationally, but only “during school hours.” With the announcement of their new protocols, Galicia and Murcia intend to go further.
The Xunta de Galicia claims that 76% of educational centers in the region had already taken measures similar to those they are currently proposing. They did it on their own initiative. It is simply a matter of prevent the use of smartphones by students throughout the center and whether during class hours or during recess.
The same will happen in the Murcia region, given that the protocols proposed are very similar (if not identical). In both cases, it does not matter if the student is in class, which was already very limited throughout the country, or if he or she is in the school yard or any other common space such as hallways, toilets or sports areas. No smartphones in Galician and Murcian educational centers.
There are exceptions in which cell phone use will be permitted.
Both in the declaration of the Xunta de Galicia and that of the Government of the Region of Murcia, the protocol is somewhat open to each center adapts the standard to its particular conditions and so you can be more or less flexible. Even if the idea is to limit the use of these devices as much as possible, it is not a question of reaching absurd limits.
Some exceptions considered are those related to student health. If one of them presents to the center with an illness or discomfort, they may exceptionally be authorized to take their cell phone to communicate with their family if necessary. Also in other family cases of an urgent nature, although it is understood that this must always be agreed with the center and also authorized by the minor’s family.
Another exceptional case is that using the smartphone is part of teaching. If the purposes of its use are educational and authorized by the teacher and/or the center, the student can bring their device. However, always under the supervision of a teacher, it is understood that they will not be able to use it for other purposes such as chatting, freely surfing the Internet, accessing social networks or playing games.
Likewise, it is a rule that fundamentally affects primary and compulsory secondary school students. Its application is not envisaged in professional training centers welcoming adult students.thus intermediate or higher level vocational training students, as well as schools for adults, will be able to continue to take their smartphone with them and use it during their rest hours (during classes, their limitation may be applied).
A first step for other communities and for national regulation
Pilar Alegría, Minister of Education, has already confirmed her intention to regulate the use of cell phones in schools (Image: Ministry of Education)
As we said at the beginning, there seems to be a certain consensus between regional and national governments for these purposes, regardless of the parties that compose them. Pilar Alegría, Minister of Education, already revealed this last month during a press conference. On this occasion, the importance of raising awareness among young people about the “abusive use” of these technologies was put on the table.
Knowing that “the Spanish government wants to provide a solution to (parents’) concerns”, they will carefully study the effectiveness of protocols like the one initiated by Galicia and Murcia when they return to school next January after the Christmas holidays. And they won’t be alone either, since Other regions are expected to join the initiative(Andalusia, Castile-La Mancha and Madrid) at the expense of the decision of the central government.
Cover image | Edited with photography by MChe Lee on Unsplash
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