Regional legislators decline measure to forbid the use of mobile devices in primary education institutions - Legislative body rejects proposal for mobile phone ban in primary schools
Mobile Phone Ban in Saxony's Elementary Schools Rejected
Saxony's legislative body, the Landtag, has declined a proposal to impose a ban on mobile phones in elementary schools by law. The motion, presented by the Alliance for Progress and Democracy (AfD), fell short of gaining the required majority in parliament. Only the AfD and independent member of parliament Matthias Berger, who is affiliated with the Free Voters, endorsed the proposal. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) had expressed its disapproval prior to the vote.
Culture Minister Conrad Clemens (CDU) unexpectedly expressed support for a ban, asserting that such a restriction, regulated by school rules, is already in place in most elementary schools. During the parliamentary session, he extended an invitation to members of parliament, teachers, and experts to attend a "results-oriented mobile phone summit" scheduled for August 28.
Previously, the parliamentary business manager of the CDU faction, Sören Voigt, stated that all parties share the view that mobile phones are disruptive to children's learning. However, the question of whether to legalize and enforce the ban remains contentious. It is recognized that children need to learn to manage mobile phones.
Representatives of the AfD referenced practices in other federal states. They believe that children should focus on the essentials of their elementary education: reading, writing, and arithmetic. The AfD called only for a ban on private mobile phone use and demanded a pedagogical concept for the responsible use of digital media in schools, along with further training for teachers.
The application stated that smart devices pose potential dangers to students, such as the spread of extremist content or bullying in social networks. Excessive use of mobile phones has been linked to attention deficits, according to experts.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) member of parliament, Gerald Eisenblätter, expressed trust in schools to set suitable guidelines for daily operations without the need for a top-down ban. Instead, common, locally-binding rules should be promoted.
Federal Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU) recently advocated for a ban on private mobile phone use in elementary schools. Several federal states and certain European countries have already legislated this restriction.
- In light of the ongoing debate about mobile phone usage in elementary schools, Culture Minister Conrad Clemens (CDU) has proposed a "results-oriented mobile phone summit" on August 28, inviting parliament members, teachers, and experts to discuss the need for vocational training in managing mobile devices and the responsible use of digital media in education-and-self-development.
- Despite the Alliance for Progress and Democracy's (AfD) call for a ban on private mobile phone use in elementary schools, citing distractions from learning and potential dangers such as the spread of extremist content or bullying in social networks, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) member Gerald Eisenblätter trusts in schools to establish suitable community policies for daily operations, promoting common, locally-binding rules without the need for a top-down ban.
