No more cell phones in the classroom. From January 1, 2024, high school students will no longer be allowed to bring phones into class unless there is a valid reason. And that is a great relief for CDA politician and former teacher René Peters from Oss, who has been annoyed for years by the telephone use of students. “This gives more peace and effective lesson time.” This is not a ban, but an urgent advice.
For years, Peters himself taught history and philosophy of life. So I can speak from experience, he says. You can hear from his tone that this is certainly not the first time he has mentioned this subject. “It takes so much time and energy to get that thing in the bag. It’s just a source of anxiety. A constant discussion.”
In his years as a teacher, it therefore cost him a lot of money. A lot of words are wasted between teenager and teacher. “It’s allowed in German, you hear. It’s about time we drew a line.” Although, according to Peters, that is not so easy in the Netherlands. “We find it difficult to set limits,” Peters responds. “While you also teach your children to guard their own boundaries.”
“Tolerating in class is like telling an alcoholic he can have a small drink.”
He sees the smartphone itself as a harmful device in the classroom, designed to make and keep users addicted. And tolerating in class? “That’s like telling an alcoholic he can have a small drink.”
Opponents of the ban wanted to use mobile phones as an aid in the classroom, but Peters does not like that. “That benefit is outweighed by the distraction it causes.”
The new rule is not only a guideline for school desks, but also a life lesson, according to the teacher. “When I go to sleep, that thing is downstairs. When we eat, that thing is not there,” Peters says about himself. “We have to learn to deal with something that attracts a lot of attention. And I think that gives a lot more peace.”
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