It was a debate that perhaps many students have a vested interest – should mobile phones be banned in schools?
As part of Law Week, Narre Warren South P-12 College Year 10 legal studies students debated the pros and cons of the contentious rule.
There were good arguments on both sides.
Phones can assist in an emergency if a teacher isn’t close at hand. They can be used to call on their parents to drop off forgotten homework, and to generally enhance learning.
But those against claimed they were a distraction, a target for thieves and an added cyber-bullying risk.
The latter arguments won the day with adjudicators Gino Andrieri, a principal at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in Dandenong, and Sandy Kaur of Springvale Monash Legal Service.
For the record, the school deems that mobile phones should not be seen in class – especially at junior high-school levels.
But as with any rule, there is an exception.
Sometimes a teacher would direct students to check facts on their phones when it’s more convenient, teacher and Year 9-10 supervisor Dianne Parkinson said.
