They distract, harm school performance, everyone agrees. The Netherlands plans to ban cell phones, tablets and smartwatches in classrooms from January 1 next year.
Especially when students are on social media or using other apps during class, it distracts them from the subject. This disturbs the social life of the class, it was said as a reason. Students are entitled to an optimal learning environment free from unnecessary distractions, the ministry said.
Dutch schools must implement their own rules by October, with the one exception: smartphones are mandatory in the classroom. Some schools have already done so, in agreement with the Minister of Education:
“So we haven’t decided on a legal ban for now. We’ll look closely at what the announcement will do. Of course there could still be a legal ban. But actually, I assume we can work this out together.”
Robbert Dijkgraaf, Minister of Education
Naturally, many students are unenthusiastic and, when it comes to cell phones or tablets, they waver between insight and resistance:
The Ministry, scientists and representatives of parents and teachers have long warned about the negative effects of cell phones in the classroom: they are a distraction, they hurt school performance, everyone agrees.