Let's put our phones away

Last month, my son's secondary school in Bristol introduced a new rule: students must lock their phones in a special bag when they arrive in the morning, and they can only open it at the end of the day. Many parents complained, and at first, so did my son. Now, however, I believe it is one of the best decisions the school has ever made.

The advantages are clear. Teachers say that students concentrate better in lessons because they are no longer distracted by messages and videos. At lunchtime, the playground is noisy again, because children are actually talking to each other and playing games instead of scrolling silently. Some teachers also believe there has been less online bullying during the school day.

Of course, not everyone agrees. Some parents worry that they won't be able to contact their children in an emergency. This is understandable, but the school office can always phone home, just as it did when we were young. Others argue that phones are useful learning tools. That may be true, but schools already have computers and tablets for that.

I'm not against technology. I use my phone all day for work, and I know how addictive it can be. That is exactly why I think young people need a few hours each day without it. Childhood is short. Let's give our children the chance to look up from their screens and enjoy it.

What do you think? Should all schools follow this example?