news
Phone ban
Calls for nationwide phone ban in public high schools .
By Emilie Lauer
Australian high schools could face a blanket mobile ban after the federal education minister announced he would consider a federal policy this year .
Jason Clare said mobile phones were a distraction for students and would consider a federal approach to banning the devices nationwide .
“ I ’ m intending to put this on the agenda when education ministers meet again in the middle of this year ,” Mr Clare told ABC Radio Brisbane .
“ But also not make the decision on our own , talk to parents , talk to principals , and talk to teachers about what ’ s the best approach to take .”
The announcement followed comments made by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk who said she refused to introduce a statewide phone ban unless a national policy was introduced .
She said while most principals in the sunshine state have already banned phones in their schools , a “ national consistency ” around phone usage in the classroom is needed .
“ If we can have a national policy on this , of course , Queensland will step up to the plate ,” Ms Palaszczuk said .
Queensland is the only state in Australia that has yet to introduce rules around phone usage in public schools .
This year NSW premier Chris Minns introduced a blanket ban
in the state ’ s public high schools from Term 4 .
Mobile phone bans in public schools are also in place in South Australia , Tasmania , Victoria , and Western Australia .
In most states , schools can choose how to restrict students ’ access to their mobile phones .
Minister Clare said whether students ’ phones are locked in a pouch , a locker or a bag , the most important aspect was that phones aren ’ t accessible .
“ If the phone is turned off , if you ’ re not looking at it , you ’ re more likely to be paying attention in class , listening to the teacher and learning , which is what school is fundamentally all about ,” he said .
According to Western Sydney University digital literacy researcher Dr Joanne Orlando schools will need to find a new approach to help students learn how to manage their technology use .
“ Blanket bans very rarely work , and young people will still need to learn how to deal with technology as they ’ ll move into careers where they ’ re going to be surrounded by multiple devices ,” Dr Orlando said .
“ We need to understand how young people use technologies across the board , not just in school .” ■
More than 26,000 Australians rocked the mullet haircut in 2020 , according to the Black Dog Institute .
Out of style
Sydney private school students face $ 20 mullet fine .
By Emilie Lauer
A
Sydney-based private school will charge its students $ 20 to have their hair cut if they attend school with a mullet .
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Waverley College had informed parents that students with mullets , dreadlocks , mohawks , braids and buns would be sent to an on-site hairdresser if they wanted to enter the school premises .
According to the paper , deputy principal Gabby Smith said students who did not comply with the school policy would be sent home .
The school ’ s new policy was reportedly introduced to prepare students for “ professional environments .”
Across Australia , multiple private schools have banned mullets on school grounds .
A student from John Paul College in WA was banned from attending class for a month last year for having what the school deemed an “ inappropriate hairstyle ”.
Similarly in Melbourne , Ballarat St Patrick ’ s private school added mullets , rat tails , Mohawk ’ s , cornrows and dreadlocks to their updated uniform policy under banned hairstyles .
Back in Sydney , Waverly College parents and other education experts took to twitter to express their divided opinions over the haircut ban .
“ I hate Mullets , but I think Waverley College ’ s uniform policy is what ’ s wrong with the world … too many labels , no room for difference ,” a tweet read .
“ That seems like a whole lot of energy that could be focused on education ,” head of the American International School of Kingston Susan Canobie said .
While some disagreed with the schools ’ announcement , others approved of the school ’ s decision .
“ Don ’ t know why anyone is against this . It ’ s always been a rule in most private schools . Was my experience too !” a former private school student commented .
“ It ’ s a sad indictment on Australia that these hairstyles are even a thing ,” another Sydneysider tweeted . ■
4 | educationreview . com . au