[This policy is currently
under review and will be updated shortly]
Purpose
- The increased ownership of mobile phones requires that school
administrators, teachers, students, and parents take steps to ensure
that mobile phones are used responsibly.
- This Acceptable Use Policy is designed to ensure that potential
issues (such as mobile etiquette) can be clearly identified and
addressed, ensuring the benefits that mobile phones provide (such
as increased safety) can be enjoyed by our students.
- Scoil Naomh Fiachra has established the following Acceptable use
Policy for mobile phones that provides guidelines and instructions
for the appropriate use of mobile phones in our school.
- In order for pupils to be allowed to have a mobile phone during
school hours, pupils and their parents / guardians must first read
and understand the Acceptable Use Policy.
- The Acceptable Use Policy for mobile phones also applies to pupils
during school trips and extra-curricular activities.
Rationale
1 Personal Safety and Security
- Scoil Naomh Fiachra accepts that some
parents give their children mobile phones to protect them from everyday
risks involving personal security and safety and to allow them to
make contact with home.
- It is acknowledged that providing a child
with a mobile phone may give parents reassurance that they can speak
with their children quickly at any time.
2 Young People and Mobile Phones
- The scientific evidence does not indicate
the need for special precautions for either adults or older children
in the use of mobile phones.
- This view is supported by the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and other leading experts and health authorities
internationally.
- The safety margins on international guidelines
take into account any differences in exposure that could be experienced
by children due to conductivity and head size.
- However recent research has raised questions
of safety for children under eight years old.
- Where parents / guardians propose to provide
mobile phones to their children they should first satisfy themselves
that it is safe to do so.
- In any event we do not consider that, on
balance, children from Infants to Second Class should be allowed
mobile phones in school.
Responsibility
- It is the responsibility of students who
bring mobile phone onto school premises to adhere to the guidelines
outlined in this policy.
- The decision to provide a mobile phone
to their children should be made by parents / guardians and not
by the children themselves.
- Parents should be aware if their child
takes a mobile phone onto school premises.
- Permission to have a mobile phone at school
or while under the school’s supervision is contingent upon parents
/ guardians signing the Consent Form attached to this policy.
- Parents / guardians may revoke approval
at any time.
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Acceptable Uses
- Mobile phones should be switched off during
school hours, including break times.
- In exceptional circumstances, should the
parent / guardian specifically request it, a pupilmay be permitted
to have a phone switched on during school hours.
- Such requests will be handled on a case-by-case
basis, and should be directed to the Principal Teacher.
- Parents are reminded that in cases of emergency,
the school telephone remains the appropriate point of contact and
can ensure your child is reached quickly.
Unacceptable Uses
- Mobile phones should not be used to make
calls, send SMS messages or for any other application during school
hours. This includes break times.
- Mobile phones should not disrupt classroom
lessons by ringing or beeping.
- This also applies to school trips and other
out-of-school supervised activities.
- Should there be repeated disruptions to
lessons caused by a mobile phone; the responsible pupil may face
disciplinary actions under the school’s Code of Good Behaviour.
Theft or Damage
- Students are required to mark all their
mobile phones clearly with their names.
• Mobile phones which are found in the school and whose owner cannot
be located should be given to a teacher.
- The school accepts no responsibility for
replacing lost, stolen or damaged mobile phones.
- The school accepts no responsibility for
mobile phones lost or stolen while travelling to and from school.
- It is strongly advised that pupils use
passwords / pin numbers to ensure that unauthorized phone calls
cannot be made on their phones (eg by other pupils, or if stolen).
- Pupils should keep their passwords / pin
numbers confidential.
Inappropriate Conduct
- Any pupil who uses vulgar, derogatory,
or obscene language while using a mobile phone will face disciplinary
actions under the school’s Code of Good Behaviour.
- Pupils with mobile phones may not engage
in personal attacks, harass another person, or post private information
about another person using SMS messages, phone calls or images.
- Pupils using mobile phones to bully other
students will face disciplinary actions under the school’s Code
of Good Behaviour.
- Any pupil who feels threatened or disturbed
by any message or phone call they receive should report this immediately
to a teacher (if it happens at school or on school-related activities)
or to a parent / guardian (if it happens outside of school).
- Non-observance of these rules may result
in the mobile phone being confiscated and privileges restricted
or withdrawn.
- If the mobile phone is confiscated, it
will need to be collected from the Principal.
- Where there repeated breaches of the rules
Parents will be required to collect the mobile phone and give an
undertaking as to the future behaviour of the pupil. Otherwise the
pupil’s privileges under this policy will be withdrawn.
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