Our Petition
A ban of all mobile phones in primary and secondary schools
There is an increasing body of evidence supporting the fact that social media and the internet harms the mental health of our youngsters.
Professionals have not gone as far (yet) to say that any use of this technology is harmful, but admit excessive use most certainly is, contributing to childhood loneliness, low self esteem and in the worst cases, deliberate self harm and even suicide.
We would have to be blind not to have noticed our children standing in groups looking and talking at screens, rather than each other. This introverted, quick fire satisfaction is not only significantly shortening their concentration spans and damaging their sleep, but also contributing to a decrease in their life satisfaction as a whole, in part due to its interference with forming lasting meaningful relationships.
Instant gratification does our children no favours. They lose the feeling of fulfilment from long and hard earned work. Life has become vanilla for many children as the internet and social media is constantly competing for their attention and creativity, quite literally blocking and stifling their own dreams and natural uninterrupted thought. It amplifies problems that should have been left to heal naturally over time and disrupts natural processes that are vital for their healthy neurodevelopment.
What is worse is that the children with lower IQs are being shown to be relatively more affected by these devices than the brighter children. Double trouble for the most vulnerable. Lower grades. Lower self esteem. Impeded and corroded life chances as a result of an artificial device adults put in their hands.
Yet we allow them in schools?
What we are doing about it
We have created a petition to encourage the Department of Education to introduce proper legislation surrounding mobile phone use in the school day aiming to ban our children from using these in Primary and Secondary schools and we would like you to join us by signing our petition over on change.org .
Please make school the one place that children can abandon these devices that they neither need nor benefit from in any meaningful way. Let’s protect their neurodevelopment from this permanent damage, help re-build their self esteem and find fulfilment in life again. Childhood mental health issues have never been more prevalent. We can help change this. Sign this petition to help encourage the Department of Education to introduce proper legislation surrounding mobile phone use in the school day. No more phones in schools.
Michelle is an experienced operational and strategic senior manager with 10 years experience in the NHS. She is currently studying an MBA in Strategic Management and recently accomplished the Board Directors Programme. Michelle has an interest in the governance and development of services.
Kelly is a registered nurse and has had a varied career that has crossed both education and health and usually involved supporting young people. She joined You Before Two in its infancy, initially to support with delivering Workshop around Sexual Health and Contraception as that was her ‘day’ job at the time. She has more recently moved into a Safeguarding Children’s role in nursing and so has become the Safeguarding Lead at the charity. Its great to see how You Before Two has grown in the last 3 years and it’s a pleasure to be part of it.
Andrea is from Brazil. She emigrated to England around 15 years ago and she loves it. She has always worked with people in her life, and it is something that really fills her soul. During her early years in Brazil, she used to work as a volunteer in her church providing free soup for people in need and also visiting hospitals trying to cheer up those in need of a chat or a cuddle. She has always believed that we should help each other and now more than ever. We are living in a very busy world where sometimes even when you are surrounded by many people you are still feeling lonely. Therefore she believes that if she could help the next generation to go through life without all the worries and concerns that she had when she was that age, is just an amazing opportunity.
Fiona has over 20 years experience as a Solicitor. She is a Senior Partner for a firm in Rotherham. Fiona has an avid interest in education and supporting young people in an increasingly challenging world. She has a wealth of experience of being on charity boards and is You Before Two’s legal and policy expert. Fiona has been with You Before Two since its inception and is a dedicated and dynamic member of the team.
The day you stop learning is the day you stop living.