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Netherlands Just Banned All Cell Phones in Public Schools
By Giselle Castaneda and Dr. Benjamin M. Drury
The Dutch government legislated against the use of mobile phones, tablets, and smartwatches in classrooms that could set a precedent for other countries moving forward. Netherlands has taken the first step in limiting access to an increasing ocean of technology that is eroding our ability to learn. Effective from January 1, 2024, these devices will be largely banned in schools throughout the Netherlands. The main objective behind this decision is to minimize distractions during lessons and create a conducive learning environment. Take a look at the graphic above and see that in 2009 the United States had lower respondents sharing that they had open access to their phone in school on a daily basis.
While it is not clear if by schools this will also include college classrooms, but why not? Do you know how many times I have lectured to a room full of people staring at their laps? Not to say that Karl Marx, or the social construction of gender, or deviance are topics that generally struggle to find students who are interested in learning more about them and discussing them with their peers. Rather, there is something seriously underdiscussed related to the use of media — specifically social media — which is that connecting with social media releases dopamine in human brains…
