How do we set boundaries with Mobile Phone use?
By John Stewart, Conductor of Living School
(no AI used)
School, Parent or Government?
There has been a lot of discussion around the new government constraints around social media use for students under 16 years of age. There is also reaction to this – as to the pros and cons.
Parents – in this tech-rich age – still have responsibility to set boundaries and to manage these devices reasonably. So difficult, I know. But I shall share how you can do this – on iPhone systems below.
Living School has a policy of no mobile phones at school from years K-10. All phones MUST be handed in at the start of the day.
PRIMARY SCHOOL
In Primary K-4, this is via the office – and we do not expect many – if any – students to bring phones to school. In such situations whereby phones are needed external to the school, we ask they are dropped in at the Office. We have never seen a student using a device yet, but if we do – that device will be held at the office.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
In Middle School 5-8, students hand in their phones to the office and place their student cards with their phone, so we can return them at the end of the day. If a student is found with a phone, the teacher will take the phone off the child and have it presented to the Office. Parents will then be contacted – and expectations affirmed and support welcomed.
THE ACADEMY
In the Academy, any students in Years 9-10 MUST NOT have a device out at school. If a teacher sees a student with a device during school there is a verbal request for handover, and the student will get them back at close of day . If there is no compliance the student is sent to Jake, and the parents will be required to pick them up from the Director of Academy.
If a teacher requires a phone to be used – for educational benefits – that teacher will ask for parental permission first.
SCHOOL BUS USE
On the school bus, to and from school, we do have students accessing their devices – however, they are NOT PERMITTED to share screens or to expose to any other student images and/or data/messages. This is particularly important as some parents do not condone use, and having exposure to devices breaches their trust.
YOU CAN CONTROL THIS SYSTEM
A community sets its culture and we need to agree there are benefits to having boundaries – boundaries, like fences, offer security.
Parents CAN TAKE CONTROL – and I am offering the following so we can act responsibly for the benefit of the individual and our community.
What if parents set up controls that meant there was NO connection during the school day?
Parents can set up the Family account and place their children into that account. This then allows you to have oversight and to set controls.
Go into Settings – and search for Family
Then you can select your family members – and create your child accounts.
Administration and Parental Controls
Once you have loaded your family, you will see your children’s accounts under your Family. This gives you control to view usage and to restrict usage, too.
Restrict access during the school day
You can support our teachers and make the burden of administration and management of these devices easier. Our students are in class from 9:00am until 3:00pm. Just set these restrictions.
This system allows you to set times for using social media.
You can also set limits during the evening – during school days – during weekends – during holidays – during bus times…
You can take control.
Gain insight (and oversight) as to your child’s social media use.
You can support our teachers and make the burden of administration and management of these devices easier. Our students are in class from 9:00am until 3:00pm. Just set these restrictions.
Gain insight (and oversight) as to your child’s social media use.
You can support our teachers and make the burden of administration and management of these devices easier. Our students are in class from 9:00am until 3:00pm. Just set these restrictions.