NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes ordered a review into the use of smartphones in schools earlier this month.

Since, many have been calling for a nationwide ban on the technology in our educational institutions. 

Psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg says the deteriorating state of child mental health is a compelling justification for contemplating a clampdown.

“I think the background for this is 1 in 7 of our primary school kids have a psychological problem and 1 in 4 have them in secondary schools. We have the highest rate of youth suicide in ten years. We’ve got rates of self-harm and suicidal ideation that we haven’t seen for a long time. All is not well in the psychological wellbeing of young people.”

“If we can remove a toxin from that environment, I think we stand a much better chance of getting to improve that picture.”

From September, a total prohibition on all devices in primary and secondary schools will be initiated in France. The ban will transcend the classroom, with phones disallowed at recess, lunchtime and even between lessons. 

Though it is unclear whether Australia will follow suit, Carr-Greg does support the elimination of smartphones in Aussie primary schools.

“The don’t have a place in primary schools. I think dumb phones, phones that don’t have cameras and that don’t link to the internet for security purposes, that’s fine.”

“But I don’t believe there is any argument that anyone could mount for having smartphones in primary school.”

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes ordered a review into the use of smartphones in schools earlier this month.
Since, many have been calling for a nationwide ban on the technology in our educational institutions.&nbsp;
Psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg says the deteriorating state of child mental health is a compelling justification for contemplating a clampdown.
&ldquo;I think the background for this is 1 in 7 of our primary school kids have a psychological problem and 1 in 4 have them in secondary schools. We have the highest rate of youth suicide in ten years. We&rsquo;ve got rates of self-harm and suicidal ideation that we haven&rsquo;t seen for a long time. All is not well in the psychological wellbeing of young people.&rdquo;
&ldquo;If we can remove a toxin from that environment, I think we stand a much better chance of getting to improve that picture.&rdquo;
From September, a total prohibition on all devices in primary and secondary schools will be initiated in France. The ban will transcend the classroom, with phones disallowed at recess, lunchtime and even between lessons.&nbsp;
Though it is unclear whether Australia will follow suit, Carr-Greg does support the elimination of smartphones in Aussie primary schools.
&ldquo;The don&rsquo;t have a place in primary schools. I think dumb phones, phones that don&rsquo;t have cameras and that don&rsquo;t link to the internet for security purposes, that&rsquo;s fine.&rdquo;
&ldquo;But I don&rsquo;t believe there is any argument that anyone could mount for having smartphones in primary school.&rdquo;

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