Opinion: Phones off and learning on in Southland schools

We all know how distracting our cell phones can be – and when phones are within easy reach it’s very tempting to check our messages or scroll through Instagram.

As adults, it’s hard enough to be disciplined, so imagine how children must be affected when they have easy access to their phones.

Phones in schools are distracting. They can discourage physical activity and can sometimes create problems with bullying.

That’s why I’m pleased to see the cell phone ban at Southland schools proceed this month.

I was also interested to hear recent comments from Invercargill’s James Hargest College principal Mike Newell, who said that his staff had reported the ban was having a positive impact at the school.

He said it was “really noisy” at break times since the ban, because young people were talking to each other and a lot more of them were going out to play and be active on the field.

Another exciting development for schools was recently announced with a $67m commitment, as part of Budget 2024, to deliver structured literacy in schools.

This aims to improve reading and writing standards for Kiwi kids and will be implemented from term 1 next year.

It’s alarming that just 56 percent of Year 8 students are at the expected level for reading and writing.

Our government has set a target to get 80 percent to curriculum level by 2030, and structured literacy will play a big part in delivering that.

Evidence from several schools, who have implemented this teaching method, report that it is lifting student achievement and reducing the need for further learning interventions.

Structured literacy is about getting back to basics and teaching children to read by using sounds and phonics to read out and understand words.

This strategy goes hand in hand with our policy to teach an hour of reading, writing, and maths each day, while our ban on phones complements both actions, ensuring that students focus on their learning and are better equipped for a brighter future.

Published by arrangement.
Penny Simmonds, Member of Parliament for Invercargill.
Email: [email protected]