The ban on the use of mobile phones in non-university educational centers came into force this Monday in the Valencian Community and, as teachers and students agree, it has "positive" effects because it results in the "improvement" of coexistence and their relationship in the center and allows, for a few hours, the “disconnection” of technologies.
“You passed by the patio and many times you saw the students sitting for 30 minutes looking at their cell phones and not talking to each other,” David Benito, head of studies at the Institute of Secondary Education (IES) of Campanar, in Valencia, told EFE. , who assures that this, which they saw especially in the little ones, motivated them to prohibit cell phones in the playground from the beginning of this year.
Starting this Monday, the resolution of the Department of Education that prohibits the use of mobile phones in all non-university educational centers in the Valencian Community begins to be applied, with the aim that their use does not have "a direct impact on learning and socio-emotional development of students”.
David Benito affirms that it is a measure with which they are “very happy” and believe that it is something “very positive and that will result in the improvement of coexistence in educational centers”, and remembers that from now on the use of the mobile phone throughout the school premises, from the beginning to the end of the activity, unless it is for educational use and with the permission of the teacher.
He explains that although at first the students “found it a little difficult and they took it quite badly, especially the first and second years of ESO, it is all a matter of getting used to it and I think that now they value it positively: They have realized “I realize that, this way, they relate more to each other and are not so obsessed or focused on their use.”
“We see that now they talk a lot more among themselves, in the playgrounds they play more, the atmosphere in class has generally improved because they get to know each other better. That is the change and I think it has been very positive,” Benito stressed.
Although he recognizes that there are students who are going to continue trying to use the cell phone, he affirms that it is important that the entire faculty “go to the letter”, confiscate the cell phone if it is used, apply the regulations and notify the parents so that they come to pick it up. .
According to Benito, the parents normally “take it well,” and although some of them have told them that they are doing “something illegal,” he explains that they have approved the measure by the School Council and have the support of the majority of parents and are covered by the current decree.
“We are very calm and talking to the parents they understood it. Sometimes it bothers them a lot to have to simply come pick up a cell phone, but it is what it is,” says the Head of Studies, who points out that in case of emergency the students can use the phone in the presence of a teacher.
He also explains the case of a student who uses it to control an insulin pump and in that case, “there is no problem, the teachers in the group know it and if the alarm goes off we cannot say not to use it because the first thing is his life".
“Students must realize that the mobile phone is a tool and they do not have to be hooked on it,” stressed Benito, who recognizes that with the arrival of mobile phones the change in education has been “enormous.”
Sergi, a high school student at IES Campanar, believes that despite being a “quite hooked” society, this measure “benefits a lot” to the students and recognizes that it does not take him much effort to do so because before he went to a center where he was not mobile phone use allowed.
He also emphasizes that social relationships with the rest of the students are improved and this, he asserts, "increases well-being in the class, since we are all better classmates and know each other better."
Although he recognizes that sometimes people use their cell phones: "it is true that sometimes you don't feel like following the class, if the teacher catches you they will take it away from you, which is what has to be done for this measure to be carried out."
Inés, a student of Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) at the IES of Campanar, affirms that she takes the ban well because she did not use it much in class, and although she points out that “everyone thought it was bad” that it could not be used in class. patio, recognizes that the students interact more now: “Before they were playing with their cell phones or music and now they play soccer”-
Diego, a high school student at IES Campanar, confesses that at first he took the ban badly but explains that now “everyone gets together with everyone, there is more communication between students and not the typical groups of four who played an online game with their cell phones.” .
“This year I have met people that I had never seen before but they were there, before I went down the hallway or the patio with my cell phone and met my class and my friends, this year I know the entire institute,” says Diego, who explains: Now, "you arrive, you put your cell phone in your pocket and you don't pick it up until you leave. "When I get home I pick it up, it's something mechanical, but at least you disconnect from the technologies at the Institute, because they absorb you."
