Phone Ban at School: French Children Forced to Hang Up
French children who are going back to school Monday after summer vacation will have to do so without their mobile phones.
The government passed a law banning phone use in all primary and middle schools for the entire day, including during breaks —with exceptions in cases of emergency and for disabled children.
Pupils are requested to shut down their mobiles or put them in a locker.
High schools can also voluntarily implement the measure. Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said it aims to help children focus on lessons, better socialize and reduce social media use. The ban is also designed to fight online bullying, and prevent thefts and violence in school.
The law allows teachers to confiscate phones until the end of the day in cases of non-compliance.
Vocabulary
primary and middle schools – schools for younger children (usually ages 5–11) and young teenagers (usually ages 11–14), “After finishing primary and middle schools, students move on to high school.”
exceptions – specific cases, people, or situations where a general rule does not apply, “Everyone must pay for a museum ticket, with the exceptions of children under three.”
implement the measure – to officially put a new rule, law, or plan into action, “The city will implement the measure to lower speed limits starting next month.”
online bullying – using the internet, texts, or social media to insult, scare, or harass someone on purpose, “Schools are teaching students how to stand up against online bullying.”
thefts – the acts or crimes of stealing money or personal property, “The gym installed security cameras to prevent thefts from the locker room.”
confiscate – to officially take something away from someone, often as a punishment or for safety reasons, “The flight attendant had to confiscate the oversized bag that would not fit in the overhead bin.”
non-compliance – a failure or refusal to obey an official rule, law, or agreement, “The company faced heavy fines for its non-compliance with environmental laws.”