France to ban students from keeping smartphones in schools

Students will need to put them in a locker or sealed pouch at the start of the day. The last decade or so has seen schools and governments alike working on a substantial question: To what degree should students be allowed access to their phones? France has been among those leading the charge, requiring smartphones to be turned off during school hours since 2018. Now, the country is taking things a step further, insisting that students leave their phone in lockers or pouches, The Guardian reports. France's education minister and former prime minister Élisabeth Borne announced the new regulation, which will go into effect in middle schools come September. "At a time when the use of screens is being widely questioned because of its many harmful effects, this measure is essential for our children’s wellbeing and success at school." The decision follows two key events, a pilot program reported on by multiple sources and published expert recommendations. The former involved 180 middle sch ... Read full article.