When French students return to school in September, they’ll have to leave one of their most prized possessions at home — their smartphone.
French lawmakers on Monday passed legislation banning students as old as 15 from bringing smartphones and tablets to school, or at least requiring that they be turned off, according to the Agence France-Presse. Officials in support of the new rule described the policy as a way to shield children from addictive habits and to safeguard the sanctity of the classroom.
“We know today that there is a phenomenon of screen addiction, the phenomenon of bad mobile-phone use,” education minister Jean-Michel Blanquer told French news channel BFMTV, according to CNN. “Our main role is to protect children and adolescents. It is a fundamental role of education, and this law allows it.”
The law, however, makes exceptions for educational use, extracurricular activities and for students with disabilities, the AFP reports. French high schools can choose to impose a less-stringent ban on Internet-connected devices.
Source: France Bans Smartphones in School | The Washington Post