Go Phone Free
Scoil Bhríde, together with the Parents Association, are encouraging participation in the “Go Phone Free” initiative among local schools. This is an initiative encouraging households to be fully informed and to discuss smartphone use at home. We want to encourage you to join the “Go Phone Free” charter in our school.
Our participation in this initiative was discussed with all classes from 1st to 6th class at assembly in early September. The children were encouraged to talk about it at home.
Brian Barron, Principal of Portlaw National School, Co Waterford spoke at the Scoil Bhríde Parents’ Association AGM on Thursday the 10th of October. He shared his experience of successfully implementing a voluntary ‘Go Phone Free’ code in over seventy schools in Co. Waterford.
You can review the slides Brian presented here.
We encourage all parents/guardians to sign-up to the charter here.
Additional Information/Suggested Reading
- https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/4509f-minister-foley-launches-new-plan-to-encourage-parents-to-avoid-buying-smartphones-for-their-children-in-primary-schools/
- https://www.independent.ie/life/children-under-the-age-of-14-should-not-have-a-smart-phone-irelands-foremost-cyber-safety-expert/36533504.html
- https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/02/14/social-media-platforms-using-ai-to-direct-harmful-content-to-children-committee-told/
- https://www.independent.ie/opinion/editorial/editorial-waking-up-to-dangers-of-smartphones-for-children/a1661256157.html
- https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/may/23/social-media-warning-kids-mental-health
- https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2023/08/31/call-for-mobile-phone-ban-in-schools-due-to-evidence-of-damage-to-young-people/
- https://www.cybersafekids.ie/resources/#research
- Dr Richard Hogan (@officialrichardhogan) • Instagram photos and videos
- Catherine Hallissey | Parenting & Child Psychologist (@catherine.hallissey) • Instagram photos and videos