2018/16: Should mobile phones be banned in schools? - Web links, documents and video clips

On December 13, 2018, the New South Wales government issued a media release titled 'NSW takes action on mobile devices in schools'
The release details the government's decision to ban mobile phones from public primary schools in New South Wales from the start of the 2019 school year.
The full text of the release can be accessed at

On December 13, 2018, news.com.au published a news report titled 'Mobiles banned from NSW primary schools from next year'
The report includes the view of psychologist, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, who led the review, the findings of which resulted in the ban.
The full text can be accessed at

In December, 2018, the New South Wales government released 'Review into the non-educational use of mobile devices in NSW schools'. The independent review was led by Dr
Carr-Gregg is a child and adolescent psychologist specialising in adolescent mental health and parenting adolescents. The review made five recommendations, one of which was that mobile phones be banned in public primary schools in New South Wales beginning from 2019.
The full text of this review, which includes a full discussing of views contrary to those which determined its recommendations, can be accessed at

On September 17, 2018, The Sydney Morning Herald published an analysis titled 'Educators push back against school smartphone ban' which presents the view of a number of education experts opposed to the banning of mobile phones in schools.
The full text can be accessed at

On September 10, 2018, news.com.au published a report titled 'Education experts call for mobile phone ban for primary schools following French move'
The report details the concerns of an number of education experts in Australia regarding the impact of mobile phones on schoolchildren.
The full report can be accessed at

On September 7, 2018, The Australian Financial Review published a report titled 'Sexting and cyber bullying behind review of mobile phone use in school'
The report presents a range of responses to the decision of the New South Wales government to conduct a review into the impact of mobile phone use among schoolchildren with a view to developing a policy on the issue.
The full text can be accessed at

On August 14, 2018, the Australian Education Union (AEU) published an article titled 'Phones in class: attraction and distraction' which presented arguments for and against the use of mobile phones in classrooms.
The full text can be accessed at

On July 3, 2018, The Sydney Morning Herald published a comment titled 'School phone ban vital for students, argue education experts'
The report gives the views of Dr Helen Wright, an international education adviser and former head of Ascham School and Dr Danielle Einstein, a clinical psychologist specialising in the treatment and prevention of anxiety, depression and OCD. Both authors favour a ban on mobile phones in schools.
The full text can be accessed at

On July 1, 2018, The Illawarra Mercury published a news report titled 'Illawarra teacher says banning phones will not stop school bullying' which features the views of Wheel founder Michael de Main, who claims that the banning of mobile phones will not of itself address the problem of bullying within schools.
The full text can be accessed at

On June 28, 2018, The Conversation published a compendium of views titled 'We asked five experts: should mobile phones be banned in schools?'
The article gives the opinions of five educational experts with differing positions on whether mobile phones should be banned in schools.
The full text can be accessed at

On June 21, 2018, Ten Daily published a comment titled 'The NSW government's announcement of a review into smartphone use in schools has sparked debate' featuring the views of psychologist Jocelyn Brewer, from the University of Sydney's Cyber Psychology Research Group, who opposes banning mobile phones in schools as a means of tackling bullying.
The full text can be accessed at

On April 17, 2018, Teacher published an analysis by Dominique Russell titled 'Mobile phones in the classroom - what does the research say?' which examined a number of research findings on the educational effects of mobile phone use, finding largely in its favour.
The full text can be accessed at

On March 11, 2018, news.com.au published a comment by Dr Tom Nehmy, a clinical psychologist and founder of the Healthy Minds Program, titled 'Smart phones have robbed kids of their childhood'
The comment outlines a number of Nehmy's concerns regarding the negative effects of mobile phones on children. The full text can be accessed at

On February 6, 2018, The Herald Sun's Kids' News published a report titled 'Call to ban smartphones in schools to prevent cyber bullying and improve students' focus on learning'
The report details the call by then federal Education Minister, Senator Simon Birmingham, to ban the use of mobile phones in schools. The report gives the views of a number of academics who support the proposal.
The full text can be accessed at

On February 4, 2018, The Courier Mail published an article titled 'Premier rejects school smartphone ban despite online evils' which details the decision of the Queensland government not to ban mobile phone in schools; however, to call on other state and territory governments to develop a national policy against bullying in schools.
The full text can be accessed at

On April 13, 2017 Huffington Post published a comment by Dr Richard Freed, a psychologist, author, and speaker on parenting in the age of digital technology, titled 'Why Phones Don't Belong in School'
The comment argues the case against mobile phones in schools drawing on a wide range of other articles and research findings to support its position.
The full text can be accessed at

On May 28, 2015, The Conversation published a comment by Joanna Rodriguez, Senior tutor, University of Surrey and Nadine Page, Teaching Fellow (Integrated Care), University of Surrey, titled ' Your smartphone could be good for your mental health'
The comment details ways in which mobile phones can assist in the maintenance of mental health.
The full text can be accessed at

On April 28, 2015, Psychiatry Adviser published a report titled 'Bullied Students More Likely to Be Depressed, Bring Weapons' which detailed the results of a number of recent studies exploring the effects of bullying, including cyber bullying, ob schoolchildren.
The full text can be accessed at