1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: Bullying is down, classroom learning is up, and who do 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: we have to think? What do we have to think 3 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:08,479 Speaker 1: banning the cell phones? The ERA report out today shows 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: the cell phone ban is working. However, it also found 5 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: half of high school students aren't following the rules. Steve 6 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: mccrack and Funga put our college principal and before sixteen 7 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: expert Advisory panelment joins me. Now, Steve, good morning, good morning, right, 8 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: good to have you on the show. So this is working? 9 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 2: Yeah? Absolutely. I mean we saw an instant I suppose 10 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 2: you call it from our students as we implemented the 11 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 2: ban and changed things in our school overnight. And it's 12 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 2: glad to see the reports highlighted that as. 13 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: Well in your school because it talks in the report 14 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: about teachers not enforcing the ban and if the best 15 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 1: thing you can do to have the band be effective 16 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: is to enforce it, do you have teachers who don't 17 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:49,519 Speaker 1: enforce it. 18 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 2: Look, our staff are amazing in terms of being able 19 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 2: to enforce things, and I think that comes down to 20 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: having solid systems in place for each school. I know 21 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 2: that teachers have individual opinions and things, but this is 22 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 2: a mandated thing from our government and you see from 23 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 2: the report that it's working as well. 24 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: Steve, is what happens. Is it just in the classroom 25 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:14,119 Speaker 1: and the learning where behavior is getting better, or does 26 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,919 Speaker 1: it spill over into other you know, into the playground. 27 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 2: It schools over everywhere. I mean, you've phone free from 28 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 2: the time you enter the school gate to the time 29 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 2: you leave. So yeah, everything's improved in terms of this 30 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 2: particular initiative from the government, and it's been really positive rightan, 31 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 2: But I'm supposed the biggest concern that we see, as 32 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 2: you know, at the end of each school day in 33 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 2: across any school in the country, as you're driving past, 34 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 2: I'm sure you'll be able to see them automatically reach 35 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 2: down and try and get that instant social media or 36 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 2: phone facts as they're walking out the school gate at 37 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: three thirty every day. 38 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, which I mean is going to happen the smart watches. 39 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: When did this happen? Everyone was like, Oh, they'll just 40 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: get smart watches and they'll get laptops and they'll do 41 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: things that way. 42 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: Are you seeing that? Yeah? And I think that's come 43 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 2: through in the report as well, hasn't it. It's that's 44 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 2: possibly the next iteration where you know, students aren't stupid 45 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 2: and they really do want to stay connected, and I 46 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 2: get that, but yeah, the smart watches, the ability to 47 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 2: connect via their laptops or chromebox or whatever. There is 48 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 2: still a possible issue that schools are facing as well. 49 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: And Steve, when you know, when it comes to why 50 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: who they're messaging? Are they messaging each other? Because it 51 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: says in the report a lot of the kids reckon 52 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: they're messaging their family. Do you reckon that's just to 53 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 1: be a you know, I'm messaging my mom like it's 54 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,359 Speaker 1: a lie? Or are they actually in which case, what 55 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: are the parents doing? 56 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 2: Well? That's a fantastic question, Ryan, But I think that 57 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 2: the students are pretty honest and this one, and from 58 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 2: what I understand it is a bit of parent education 59 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 2: needed as well, just around you know, kids are safe 60 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 2: at school and they're doing pretty well at school, is 61 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 2: the report finds as well, and you know there is 62 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 2: some education needed possibly around how to connect or communicate 63 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 2: with their students during the school day. But I mean 64 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 2: most schools, I think all the schools that I've spoken 65 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 2: to in particular, have solid systems in place where if 66 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 2: a parent needs to contact the student during the day, 67 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 2: they call the office and the message goes through to them. 68 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 2: But yeah, it's still a need I suppose for parents 69 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 2: and the report that says we still want to connect 70 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 2: with our kids. But yeah, the phone free during the day, 71 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 2: you're seeing your kid up to sail if that happens. 72 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: Steve mccrack and Fungapower College Principle. 73 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 2: For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge. Listen live 74 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 2: to news talks. It'd be from five am weekdays, or 75 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 2: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.