East Lothian Council Faces Petition Over Mobile Device Use in Schools

A growing concern regarding the use of personal mobile devices in East Lothian schools has emerged, led by local parent and former teacher, Jenny Gries. During a meeting with the council’s petitions committee, Gries argued that students should not be allowed to use their own devices for lessons due to distractions and safety issues.

Gries, who has three children and resides in Gullane, highlighted that the shortage of council-provided devices in secondary schools has resulted in students relying on their smartphones to access educational materials. She pointed out that this reliance has led to significant distractions, with students receiving “hundreds of notifications” during class.

In her petition to the council, Gries referenced a recent incident in which all email accounts across East Lothian schools had to be suspended. This was after a rogue email sent by a student went viral, circulating inappropriate content throughout the network. Gries called for a review of the council’s digital strategy to include strict guidelines on personal device usage, advocating that only council-owned devices should be permitted for teaching and learning purposes.

Gries emphasized the inconsistency in the council’s current policy. “It seems bizarre to send out letters highlighting the safeguarding technology on school devices while allowing young people to bring in personal mobile devices that have no such firewall in place,” she stated. She clarified that while she does not advocate for a complete ban on mobile phones in schools, their use for educational purposes should be prohibited.

In response to these concerns, David Reid, the council’s education officer for digital support, acknowledged the inequalities caused by the lack of Chromebooks available for all pupils. He noted that a pilot project at Dunbar Grammar School, initiated in August 2023, aims to provide every secondary student with a Chromebook. Reid reported that initial findings show a dramatic decrease in device damage incidents when students are assigned individual Chromebooks for both classroom and home use.

The council plans to publish a review of its digital learning strategy, which will include updated guidelines regarding personal devices. Councillor Lee Ann Menzies expressed her concern about the inequality faced by students who must use personal devices, stating, “Every child within the school setting should have the same filters.” She emphasized the council’s responsibility as corporate parents to ensure equitable access to educational resources.

Councillor McGuire echoed these sentiments, stating, “As a councillor, we have a responsibility to do the best for our children, so I will support the petition.” The committee ultimately agreed to back the petition’s request for a review of the digital strategy, focusing on the use of personal devices in educational settings and the introduction of council-owned devices.

In conclusion, the ongoing discussions around mobile device use in East Lothian schools underline a significant challenge faced by educational authorities in balancing technology access with student safety and engagement. As the council moves forward with its strategic review, the outcomes may pave the way for a more standardized approach to digital learning across the region.