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| Curbs call on pupils' phone usage | Curbs call on pupils' phone usage |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Teaching union representatives have called for schools to be made "mobile phone free zones" following the filming of an alleged attack on a head teacher. | Teaching union representatives have called for schools to be made "mobile phone free zones" following the filming of an alleged attack on a head teacher. |
| Concerns have been raised after a "happy slapping" incident last week in which a 15-year-old boy allegedly assaulted a Borders school rector. | Concerns have been raised after a "happy slapping" incident last week in which a 15-year-old boy allegedly assaulted a Borders school rector. |
| Last year, the EIS union passed a motion calling for more responsible use of mobile phones in the classroom. | Last year, the EIS union passed a motion calling for more responsible use of mobile phones in the classroom. |
| It has been working with some councils on offering guidance to schools. | It has been working with some councils on offering guidance to schools. |
| Larry Flannigan, a Glasgow principal teacher who sits on the EIS union's education committee, claimed that though this appeared to be the first videoed incident involving a teacher, there has been a rise in "happy slapping" incidents reported. | Larry Flannigan, a Glasgow principal teacher who sits on the EIS union's education committee, claimed that though this appeared to be the first videoed incident involving a teacher, there has been a rise in "happy slapping" incidents reported. |
| In light of what has happened here and incidents elsewhere I feel there should be a total ban on mobile phones at schools Jock HoustonBorders councillor Have your say on mobile phones in schools | |
| He is now in discussion with Glasgow City Council, which he described as being "very supportive" of policies aimed at minimising the disruption caused by mobile phones in classrooms. | He is now in discussion with Glasgow City Council, which he described as being "very supportive" of policies aimed at minimising the disruption caused by mobile phones in classrooms. |
| "At one end you have the happy slapping type of incident but we also have the inconvenience of phones going off in lessons, parents having conversations with pupils in the middle of a class via the phone," he said. | "At one end you have the happy slapping type of incident but we also have the inconvenience of phones going off in lessons, parents having conversations with pupils in the middle of a class via the phone," he said. |
| "There is a need for phones to be used in a sensible and responsible way. | "There is a need for phones to be used in a sensible and responsible way. |
| "There are some buildings where people automatically switch their phones off and don't use them and we'd like schools to be a similarly mobile phone free zone." | "There are some buildings where people automatically switch their phones off and don't use them and we'd like schools to be a similarly mobile phone free zone." |
| While he admitted there were technical ways of blocking phone use, Mr Flannigan said he would prefer to educate pupils that using phones wasn't always the "done thing". | While he admitted there were technical ways of blocking phone use, Mr Flannigan said he would prefer to educate pupils that using phones wasn't always the "done thing". |
| "It's really a case of establishing policies whereby pupils know if they use their phone inappropriately it will be confiscated and they will have to wait until the end of the week until it is returned," he added. | "It's really a case of establishing policies whereby pupils know if they use their phone inappropriately it will be confiscated and they will have to wait until the end of the week until it is returned," he added. |
| 'Emergency reasons' | 'Emergency reasons' |
| A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council confirmed that it was currently drafting a letter to schools offering guidance on the use of mobile phones in schools, which it expects to send out by the end of the week. | A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council confirmed that it was currently drafting a letter to schools offering guidance on the use of mobile phones in schools, which it expects to send out by the end of the week. |
| Judith Gillespie of the Scottish Teacher Parent Council (STPC) said that schools should insist phones are switched off, confiscated or banned if they are used inappropriately. | |
| "It is accepted practice amongst adults that phones are switched off during meetings," she said. | |
| "I think it's perfectly acceptable to have a very strict policy that phones are always switched off during class time." | |
| She said there was no excuse for parents to insist on the right to contact their child on their mobile phone during the school day. In emergencies they should call the school, she added. | |
| Lothian and Borders Police have charged a 15-year-old in connection with the alleged assault on the head teacher and a report has been sent to the Children's Panel. | |
| It has emerged that the pupil had been excluded from school in the morning and had returned at lunchtime, when the alleged attack took place. | |
| Scottish Borders Council has declined to comment directly on the incident due to the police inquiry. | Scottish Borders Council has declined to comment directly on the incident due to the police inquiry. |
| However Scottish Borders councillor Jock Houston, a former EIS regional representative, has called for a total ban on pupils having mobile phones. | However Scottish Borders councillor Jock Houston, a former EIS regional representative, has called for a total ban on pupils having mobile phones. |
| "It has been argued children need them for emergency reasons but they can always get access to a phone at the school office if need be and their parents contacted that way. | "It has been argued children need them for emergency reasons but they can always get access to a phone at the school office if need be and their parents contacted that way. |
| "In light of what has happened here and incidents elsewhere I feel there should be a total ban on mobile phones at schools." | "In light of what has happened here and incidents elsewhere I feel there should be a total ban on mobile phones at schools." |