Should cell phones be banned at schools? This is a question causing controversies at the schools around the Bay of Plenty these days.  

Some of them in Tauranga started adopting a measure in which no cell phones could be used or visible during school hours.

These announcements come after the National Party said during the election campaign around mid-year that it would ban the use of cell phones in schools if elected.

According to a letter sent to parents and caregivers of Tauranga Girls’ College, “evidence supported the view that the hauora/wellbeing of the students improved without phones because they could build social interactions with those immediately around them”.

Children are not allowed to have cell phones at the school, says Ōtūmoetai Primary School principal Zara Mcindoe.

“If children do happen to bring their cell phone to school, they must leave it at the school office when they arrive and pick it up at 3pm.

“So, the proposed ban on cell phones will have no impact on our students as this is already the rule that we have in place at our Kura/school.”

SunLive asked some parents after leaving their kids at different schools and they agreed with this measure.

“I gave a cell phone to our nine-year-old daughter, but she knows is just for necessary situations, ahe always follows the rules the school have about the use of these things. For us is just a security measure before and after school,” says one of the parents.

“To avoid this kind of distraction our 10-year-old son uses a smartwatch which only allows him to call or text us in case of an emergency, in that way we can keep in contact with him, and is a system that just his mum, he and I use and both of parents controlled,” says another parent. 

“I do not see why this is necessary, my child can use his phone during the breaks, is not that he uses it all the time, I don't know why the government have to decide this very personal thing,“ says a parent.  

National will ban cell phone use at school to help lift achievement and support every child to make the most out of their education, says Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford.

“To turn around falling achievement, students need to focus on their schoolwork during their precious classroom time.

“That means doing what we can to eliminate unnecessary disturbances and distractions.

“Many schools here and overseas have experienced positive outcomes, including improved achievement, after banning the use of cell phones.

“We want teachers to be able to get on with teaching and students to concentrate on learning.

“Student achievement has declined over the past three decades, jeopardising kids’ future livelihoods and threatening New Zealand’s future prosperity.

“Parents can contact students via the school office, and exceptions for students with health conditions or special circumstances will be permitted.”