Littlebookshelf shopkeeper supports the "Mobile Phones in Schools" Policy launched by the Victoria govenment of Australia. Since strategy implementation in 2020, mobile phones must be switched off during school day in government schools. This is in agreement with the France and Dutch government.
In the recent Medscape post "How much does screen time really affect child development", Mr Thwaini reflected the fact that these measures might not be suported by evidence. In particular, Miss Mansfield from Oxford University argued that, currently policy implementation was racing far ahead of the evidence.
Whether you agree or disagree, it is open for discussion. To perform a so called gold standard double blind controlled study, we are obliged to allocate candidates to one group using mobile phones all the time or variable duration and the other counterpart with no device usage at all. What would be the outcome measurement? School reports? All parameters are subject to numerous confounding factors. Not to mention that in medicine, a few randomized controlled trials are subject to publication bias. Medical professionals look up to systemic analysis and metaanalysis.
All in all, in view of public interests, administrators should have foresight to enforce public measures deemed necessary. Evidence might not be the panacea for all policies.
Literature:
1. https://www.vic.gov.au/mobile-phones-schools
2. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/how-much-does-screentime-really-affect-child-development-2024a10000x4?form=fpf
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