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French schoolchildren will have to leave their smartphones switched off or at home as the new academic year begins in September, after lawmakers voted for a ban on Monday.
The ban on smartphones, tablets and other connected devices, which will apply to pupils up to the age of 14-15, fulfils[sic] a campaign promise by centrist President Emmanuel Macron, while being derided as "cosmetic" by the opposition.
MPs of Macron's centrist LREM party and its allies gave final approval to the bill, while lawmakers on the left and right abstained from the vote, calling the law a "publicity stunt" that would change nothing.
Under the new law, schools may make exceptions for "pedagogical use", extra-curricular activities, or for disabled pupils.
Secondary schools for their part can decide individually whether to impose a partial or total ban on connected devices.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by bob_super on Wednesday August 01 2018, @11:56PM (9 children)
- I need a phone
- You're in Middle school, you don't need a phone
- My friends have phones
- Good for them. You're still not getting one
- What if I need to call you?
- Ask your friends for their phone
- What if it's an emergency?
- Ask an adult in the school, then ask your friends for a phone
- What about $after_school activity ?
- Ask the adult in the room
- How about when I'm going there, or coming back?
- With your mom, or your friend and her mom or dad, the bus driver, or the shop next to the bus stop ?
- But I want a phone!
- Let's go over the concept of "no", once again
- ...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 02 2018, @12:57AM (3 children)
They're so desperate to have those proprietary, spying shiny goodies. Good little slaves.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 02 2018, @01:12AM (2 children)
(Score: 3, Insightful) by bob_super on Thursday August 02 2018, @01:16AM
And miss a learning opportunity ?
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 02 2018, @01:20AM
Then they should create phones which aren't loaded with proprietary software and spying. I refuse to support such things with my money.
(Score: 2) by VLM on Thursday August 02 2018, @01:49PM (3 children)
Ugh its like arguing with management... just tell them what it'll cost and let them decide.
OK that phone will cost you mowing the lawn seventy times because phones have exploded in price in recent years, and then shoveling the driveway approximately twice a week to pay the monthly bill, every single month, or it gets disconnected. Not interested anymore? OK whatevs now go do your homework.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 02 2018, @04:58PM
We have found the topic where VLM has useful advice! Huzzah, come celebrate and be merry!
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday August 02 2018, @05:30PM (1 child)
How does doing mandatory chores translate into a real-life cost ? 70 times zero is ...
(not even going into the fact I haven't mowed my lawn 70 times over the last 5 years)
(Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday August 05 2018, @11:05PM
When there is, as here, a choice. If you choose a path which has mandatory chores that aren't on other paths, then those chores are a cost of the path. If one looks at this particular scenario, it is educational in so many ways. First, it illustrates the exclusive power of the parent. No one else can legally buy the phone for the kid. Thus the parent can demand unusually high costs (such as mucho mandatory chores).
Second, the costs aren't particularly extreme in this case. For example, I spend almost $50 a month on cell phone service. Here, we're probably speaking of no more than 10 hours a month (usually much less) unless VLM has a mighty lawn or rainforest climate.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday August 02 2018, @04:28PM
Please note, the kid doesn't need a smartphone, but some form of contact would be a good idea.
A quick look on the internet provided different options. "Just a Phone" kind of devices marketed for kids or seniors. (Some have tiny games, but not anywhere near a "smartphone" kind of thing.)
Example of a phone that would seem appropriate for school kids:
https://www.amazon.com/Firefly-96-0001-039-Mobile-glowPhone-Pink/dp/B000W9R7CS [amazon.com]
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"