School phone ban good but ‘void’ being created

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

Removing cell phones from schools is a positive step, but Sport Canterbury says something has to “fill the void" or students will potentially fill it with trouble.

Sport Canterbury’s sector support manager Megan Harlick said the removal of phones has created a void.

“Unless there is something there to activate them, they will find their own trouble.

“It’s critical we don’t leave this void that is then filled by something else.”

She said Sport Canterbury’s programmes in primary and secondary schools, which aim to keep schoolchildren active, are one way to fill that void.

Mid Canterbury community adviser Alice Breading said using phones and other devices at home can become normal behaviour, and the phone ban is an opportunity to “remind them play is out there”.

“Kids need to remember and re-learn sometimes how to play.

“They don’t have to grow up too fast, which is a big piece of the play work we are doing in primary school ... to enjoy playing, climbing trees, enjoy using the playgrounds in different ways.

“Kids don’t tend to find trouble when they are having fun and keeping busy.”

Sport Canterbury recently presented its annual report to the Ashburton District Council, which granted $67,600 for 2024-25 as part of the council’s ongoing support of the organisation.

The report detailed how Sport Canterbury has supported Ashburton College to access $360,000 over three years from Sport New Zealand’s Active As programme.

“It’s all around the enhancement of well-being through physical education,” Breading said.

It’s a student-led programme aimed at increasing physical activity at school but also extended outside the school gate by connecting with local sports groups and the EA Networks Centre.

Then there is healthy active learning facilitator Anna Holland who is working across 10 primary schools in the district around “what quality PE looks like” for the pupils.

One of the popular sessions is “chalk bombing”, where an activity circuit is created using chalk instructions around the school playground.

Breading and Holland presented a case study of what they have achieved at Ashburton Intermediate this year following a playground mapping exercise that identified some barriers and possible improvements to make at the school.

Rather than children wandering around with nothing to do, which can lead to behavioural issues, the goal was to provide more options and opportunities to keep them active, Breading said.

The process gained traction due to the support from the school and a few small changes will make a big impact over time Holland said.

“It will take longer than a term but it will become the new norm.”