Mobile Devices to Be Locked in a Magnetic Phone Pouches During School Hours at Victoria College
The magnetic phone pouches will lock phones of 900 pupils during class hours, which can be unlocked after with magnets around the school.
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A college in Belfast will make sure students will focus and interact socially in the campus. To make this happen, Victoria College provided magnetic phone pouches for its 900 pupils.
The pouches will safely store mobile phones, among other "distracting" gadgets, such as smartwatches, and earbuds in school. School Principal, Karen Quinn, shared that this would encourage responsible use of phones so that the students become "good communicators."
According to BBC, students will carry their devices into school and store them in a pouch. This pouch is locked magnetically so when phones are needed for activities during the school day, the teacher unlocks it. By the end of the school day, the student may unlock their pouch with magnets stationed around the school.
In this manner, students are allowed to carry their phones to school, yet minimize its usage time during school hours.
Why Should Cellphones Be Banned in School?
Principal Quinn emphasized that unsupervised and unlimited access to phones during school time brings negative effects to students' engagement in learning, social interactions, and mental health. Limiting phone access is a response to these challenges, showing them the responsible use of technology, rather than provide a blanket ban on it.
Students were introduced to the plan at an assembly.
Though some feel nervous about the policy, others are interested and even share suggestions with staff. The school has invited pupils to be open-minded and take part in how the policy will be implemented.
Last year, The Guardian reported that a Parliament member urged schools to place a statutory ban on smartphones in campuses, but Victoria College decided to adopt the pouch system even before the government recommended the same. The school has funded the initiative from its budget, with each pouch costing less than a typical textbook. Principal Quinn admitted that the choice is a financial strain on school budgets but this is a priority investment.
With this policy, the Belfast-based college hopes its approach will create better learning environments, improve the well-being of students, and promote positive social engagement among its pupils.
