Teacher, parent, and child opinions on areas devoid of mobile devices

In Belarus, the start of the new school year has brought about a significant change – the ban on mobile phones in schools. This decision, aimed at reducing distractions and promoting focus during lessons, has sparked a variety of reactions among students, parents, and educators.

Yana, a seventh-grader, finds the ban challenging as she relies on her phone to check the bus schedule and inform her mother of her safe arrival. Alesya, a parent, however, decided to leave her children's phones at home, as they only have a short walk to school. On the other hand, Milana, an 11th-grader, expresses concern about the impact of the ban on her convenience and the increased weight of her backpack.

The collection and safekeeping of phones during school hours have become a new routine for many students. Some, like Olga's interviewee, have seen around a dozen phones being collected mid-week from students who hadn't handed them in. Yet, teachers, such as Vera Alexeevna with over 30 years of experience, note that phones have never been an issue for them.

Some students, like Matvey in the sixth grade, have chosen not to bring their phones to school at all. However, not everyone follows this rule. Katherine, a student in a Minsk school, admits that some of her classmates hand in fake phones or dummies. This practice, while potentially allowing students to avoid the ban, raises concerns about safety and practicality.

Parents, too, have mixed feelings about the ban. Jeannie, a mother of two eight-graders, states that the school principal is very strict, and the students willingly hand in their phones. On the contrary, Galina, another parent, is against her child's phone being taken away and has given her child an ultimatum about not handing it in.

Educators, however, are divided on the issue. Eva Ivanovna, an English teacher, allows students to use dictionary apps during lessons and shows them where to find more information online. Anna, a teacher and parent, believes that modern technologies should be used in education and suggests allowing button phones or smartwatches for students.

As for the Belarusian government's opinion on a possible law banning tablets in schools, there is currently no available information in the search results. The implications of this ban on education and student-parent communication remain to be seen. Alesya, a parent, suggests using a messenger to communicate with parents whose children are willing to give up their phones.

Inga Sergeevna, a former school teacher, admits that phones were collected from students before the ban, but now they can no longer be used during breaks. This raises questions about how students will manage their time outside of lessons, and whether the ban will indeed promote focus and reduce distractions in the classroom.

The mobile phone ban in Belarusian schools is a topic of ongoing discussion, with varying opinions from students, parents, and educators. As the school year progresses, it will be interesting to see how this policy affects the daily lives of students and the overall educational environment.