Mr David Stonestreet
I have always been a big enthusiast for computers and digital technology. I hung out at Dick Smiths on the way home from school in the 80’s whenever I could, using the TRS-80 and VIC-20 computers they had set up as demos; I pestered my working class parents who somehow found enough money on a single income to buy us a Commodore 64 for Christmas in 1983 which I then learnt to program on; at university I eagerly learnt the ins and outs of the new Apple Mac Plus computers in the computer lab, and in the 90’s here at Shire Christian I set up one of the school’s first standalone desktop computers at the heart of a digital recording studio in the Music Department.
So it is somewhat ironic that of all the books I own on technology, most of them are cautionary tales or warnings of the dangers of devices (often called “screens” these days) and what they are doing to our relationships and our brains.
There have been numerous reports in the media recently about schools who have decided to “ban” mobile phones. The schools aren’t actually banning the phones from being brought to school but are restricting their use during the day. I was little surprised to find out that some schools, both independent and government, had been allowing students to sit their phones on their desk in every class, and use them freely at recess, lunch, and other breaks.
At Shire Christian, we have always had the policy that mobile phones are not to be used or seen during the school day. When I walked around the school at lunch this week I did not see faces glued to screens in zombie isolation – I saw children and young people playing, talking and interacting. I am thankful that we have always held this line.
To keep things this way I want to ask for your support. Please don’t encourage your kids to message or call you during school hours unless a staff member or the office has given them permission. And if you text them information, please don’t expect them to break school rules by reading and replying before the end of the school day.
I am hesitant to take any more drastic steps that some schools are needing to do like using locked phone pouches, so your support in this area is greatly appreciated. As a father of two (now adult) children who have been through our school, I pray for all parents as you continue to navigate this difficult area of setting boundaries with your children and their often addictive technology.
Digital devices can be wonderful tools for communication, expression, productivity, and learning. The leadership and staff at Shire Christian continue to examine and refine the ways to use these tools to minimise risks, while maximising the opportunities of technology.
Mr David Stonestreet
Principal
