British actor Hugh Grant criticizes harsh schools that allow students to excessive access to technology and demand the prohibition of laptops and tablets in classrooms.
British actor Hugh Grant criticizes Modern Photo Schools: Getty Images
Actor Hugh Grant, known for his roles in “Notting Hill” and “Four Weddings and Funeral”, took a firm position against the use of laptops and tablets in schools. At an event held at Knightsbridge School in Western London, Grant said that educational institutions are encouraging “Pathological dependence on screens ” among the students and has listed this situation as “pathetic”.
“I am another angry parent carrying the eternal, exhausting and depressing struggle with children who just want to sit on the screen”, Said the 64 -year -old actor, according to the Daily Mail.
Grant expressed frustration about the decision of schools to introduce laptops in the educational process: “The drop that filled the glass was when the school began to say, with some pride, that it offers each child a chromebook. And I do a lot of lessons on the Chromebook, and they do all their homework on the Chromebook, and just think it’s the last thing they need, and the last thing we need”.
Currently, according to a report of the Department for Education in the UK, 98% of teachers use class technology, and 90% of students, from the primary and secondary cycle, have access to laptops or phones during hours.
Children are no longer playing out for “ridiculous” reasons
Grant also criticized private schools “pretentious“In which he learns his children, saying that they impose absurd restrictions:”They are the kind of schools that say they can’t go out because it is raining, or they can’t climb the playground because the wind blows. It’s pathetic. It seems to me that there is room for a hero school, a set of schools to break the patterns”.
Other supporters of the campaign “Close Screens, Open Minds”
The event was attended by actress Sophie Winkleman, married to Lord Frederick Windsor (King Charles cousin), and American psychologist Dr. Jonathan Haidt, known for his research on the impact of social networks.
Dr. Haidt asked for the prohibition of phones in schools, but also the prohibition of social media use for children under 16 years old. “There is room for technology in education but not on children’s offices”He said.
Actress Sophie Winkleman also criticized technology addiction in schools: “We were sold a dream in which the technology would revolutionize education, personalize learning and prepare children for a digital future. After billions spent, where did I get? The test results are declining globally. Excessive use of screens harms children’s health. Students do their homework with chatgpt, and teachers correct them with the help. Then what is the school still? ”
Authorities are trying to respond
Hugh Grant’s intervention comes in the context in which the Children’s Commissioner in England, Dame Rachel de Souza, suggested this month to restrict the use of phones and outside the school hours. According to a survey, almost a quarter of children between the ages of 8 and 15 spend more than four hours a day on electronic devices, and 6% stay more than six hours daily.
“These children do not sit on the phones only during the hours. If we want to protect them, we have to expand our care beyond the gates of the school and make sure they are safe all the time”, Said Dame Rachel
Dilute draft diluted in Parliament
Against this heated debate, a draft law called “Safer Phones Bill” was recently presented in Parliament by Labor deputy Josh Mcalister. Initially, it provided for the prohibition of phones in all schools in England and required a stricter regulation of how smartphones are marketed and used under 16 years.
But the project was strongly diluted, to the dissatisfaction of some parliamentarians: “The government delayed, diluted and surrendered. We should be angry“Said Conservative deputy Kit Malthouse.
Josh Mcalister replied: “My goal has always been to cause a national debate and get something concrete. It’s just the first step – as we proceeded with smoking or seat belts in cars”.
The Minister for Data Protection, Sir Chris Bryant, said “The action in this area is inevitable“And that the Government works on the implementation of the Law on online safety. The safety codes for children are to be completed, and an analysis on the impact of smartphones on young people will be published in May.
