The experiment of a Dutch school would demonstrate that the spread of smartphones between teenagers worsens learning and socialization ability.
In these days, a petition launched on the Change.org platform by a large group of psychologists and pedagogists and supported by a vast group of well -known faces of Italian cinema, by Paola Cortellesi and Pierfrancesco Favino, is discussed. From Claudia Gerini to Luca Zingaretti.
The topic is theUse of smartphones in adolescence and the proposal concerns the possibility of Enter a legal ban on owning a mobile phone before 14 years of age and enrolling in a social network before 16.
Why ban the cell phone among the boys? The reasons are linked to worry type neuroscientific: lo cognitive and emotional development could be compromise from early use of these devices, altering the balance between real and digital experiences.
The lack of concrete social contexts, in fact, can negatively influence learning and socialization skillsas shown by some schools that have already limited the use of the smartphone. An example? The Calvijn College (Holland)where six years ago was use for use phones cell phones.
How the challenge began. When the Dutch school introduced the prohibitionthe initial reaction was of strong resistance. Especially students, accustomed to using their devices during school hours, have received the decision as something of anachronistic. In an atmosphere of general discontent, approximately 20% of the subjects involved between parents, boys and some teachs, they went further, manifesting one marked opposition: some feared of not to be able to communicate with their children During the day, others believed that prohibiting smartphones meant deny access to new technologies useful.
However, the decision had been deemed necessary by the school authorities who had long observed how the constant use of phones he was negatively influencing social life of students, with increasingly rare conversations and reduced moments of aggregation.
Cultural revolution. In the four years that followed the introduction of the ban, Calvijn College observed a cultural transformation. The courtyard and the corridors, once silent and populated by boys with the head bowed on smartphones, have returned to being Spaces of social interaction. The students started talking to each other, playing and socializing during the breaks.
Also the lessons they were found more participatory and less fragmented, with an improvement in the attention and participation of pupils. This change has attracted the interest of other local schools, which followed the example of Calvijn College.
Also the Dutch government he dealt with the issue, recommending to secondary schools to take similar measures.
Students’ reactions. Despite the overall success, not all students welcomed the change. About the 40% he said of appreciate the absence of phones during the breaks, but 37% expressed nostalgia for their use and some reported feel forced to socializeeven when they didn’t feel like it.
However, the benefits of the measure were evident: the boys have shown they are less distracted and more involved in school activities, while a Significant drop in cyberbullying. The teachers underlined how the quality of the interactions between students improved, favoring a more serene and productive environment.
An irreversible decision. With the passage of time, the prohibition to use smartphones at Calvijn College And become integral part of school life And it made it possible to recover a social fabric that seemed lost.
Initially it was thought to reintroduce the use of phones among the biggest students, but in light of the improvements observed, the idea was soon abandoned. Today this prohibition is considered a strong point for the Institutewhich is seen how An innovative and far -sighted institution rather than anachronistic.
