France’s phone hang-up is a conversation starter
French legislators recently passed a law banning children between three and 15 from using smartphones in class. The government of President Emmanuel Macron said the move will help combat an epidemic of screen addiction among France’s children.
At first glance, it looks as if the legislation will help to curb screen addiction. Even if it doesn’t, let’s see similar laws passed in Canada’s provinces. Smartphones don’t belong in the classroom.
Passing such a law wouldn’t be the first time that government outlawed addictive substances from classrooms. In the 1960s, professors smoked wizardly pipes while lecturing to chain-smoking students. That changed once government realized officially that smoking kills. Now, smokers are as rare as white squirrels.
Smartphones don’t kill but they are addictive. They are the ubiquitous cure-all and avoidance strategy. Baby’s upset? Give him a phone. Awkward silence? Pull out the phone, check for updates. If no updates, refresh and check again.