Hamburg school starts smartphone-free class – parents are thrilled!

Hamburg school starts smartphone-free class – parents are thrilled!

An exciting development has emerged in a Hamburg high school: a class in which...Owning smartphones is strictly prohibitedis. The teachers collect the cell phones at the beginning of the school day and only return them at the end. Focus reports overwhelming interest from parents who are enthusiastic about this initiative. Particularly noteworthy: 32 families applied for just 24 places in the smartphone-free class.

A parent information evening made it clear how much the issue is getting on parents' nerves. Some of them make it clear that they consider the ban to be inadequate, because even after school, phenomena such as:CyberbullyingandAddictive behaviorpresent. Catalina von Rotenhan, the initiator of this idea, wants to specifically protect her children from these risks. Their commitment is becoming more and more popular, not least through the Hamburg association “Smarter Start from 14”, which advocates for the late purchase of smartphones.

The data on cell phone bans

But what do the studies say about cell phone bans in schools? Loud German school portal There are only a few scientific studies to date that shed light on the effect of a general cell phone ban on learning performance. However, a 2016 study from England showed that schools with banning measures achieved significantly better test results, particularly among lower-performing students. These students therefore benefit from a reduction in distraction - on average, this corresponds to an increase of one lesson per week.

A further look at the scientific evidence shows that a recent scoping review by Campbell et al. (2024) reveals inconsistent results. Some studies show positive effects, but the recommendations call for a differentiated approach to political decisions and for a subtle design of the bans.

Positive effects for the social climate

In connection with the effects of a cell phone ban, a study by... University of Augsburg Belfrön: It has been shown that such a measure not only promotes social well-being, but also has clear positive effects on the learning performance of students. Visible cell phones seem to hinder concentration and learning processes while aban improve the social climatecan, which ultimately also promotes learning.

What is certain is that you cannot simply ban cell phones across the board. The assessment of the benefits depends heavily on implementation, and schools should find a balance between prohibition and responsible use of the technology. Altering, joint educational measures for media literacy should be developed.

The CDU in Hamburg has also spoken out in this discussion and is calling for uniform regulations for cell phone bans in schools. An application that wants to ban the private use of mobile devices in primary schools is already making people sit up and take notice. At the same time, comprehensive “mobile phone garages” are to be created in secondary schools.

In summary, it is clear that the discussion about cell phone use in schools is becoming more intensive and that parents, teachers and educational politicians are having to deal more closely with the findings received.