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Head teacher plans 12-hour school day to break 'phone addictions'

Monday, 22/04/2024, 18:54 (GMT+7)

Head teacher sparks debate after announcing plans to introduce 12-hour breaks to help students overcome phone addiction.

A head teacher has unveiled plans to introduce a 12-hour school day to combat what he calls a '100 percent phone addiction' among his students.

A head teacher plans 12-hour school instead of spending home to use their advice.  

A head teacher sparked debate after announcing to plan for students 12 hours at school. 

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Head teacher introduces 12-hour school day to combat phone addiction. Image Credits: Getty

The incident occurred in West London. Students at All Saints Catholic College in Notting Hill, west London, will be expected to arrive at 7 am and stay until 7 pm. 

Andrew O'Neill, a head teacher introduced to plan for students to from 7. am to 7 p.m. at school, instead of spending time at home on their devices. 

As planned, students at All Saints Catholic College will participate in activities such as dodgeball, basketball, art, drama, and cookery classes.

Andrew O'Neill expresses concern that smartphones negative impact on student 

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Andrew O'Neill expresses concern about negative impact of smartphones on students. Image Credits: AII Sanits CC

Andrew O'Neill the architect of the scheme, expressed concern that smartphones were creating an apathetic and anxious generation.

In the interview with the Times, O'Neil, a 42-year-old former head teacher of the year reveals the shocking thing he had ever seen on a confiscated phone. 

These included instances of students blackmailing strangers and catfishing each other, which involves pretending to be someone else online to humiliate another person.

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Students at All Saints Catholic College in West London expected to attend 7 am to 7 pm. Image Credits: Getty

Andrew claimed that students are falling victim to online crime

O'Neill said that several students were falling victim to online crimes, including cyberbullying, sexting, and blackmail.

He also expressed concern about children's increasing inability to make friends in real life, often choosing to play online games into the early hours of the morning with those in other countries.

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O'Neill reveals instances of online crimes and students' increasing isolation. Image Credits: Getty

Andrew also reveals the negative impact of phone communication.

He noted that his students were becoming worse at making eye contact and holding conversations. 'We have a long-term issue we need to solve,' O'Neill added. 'If we don't, we will have a generational problem with workplaces and society.'

O'Neill said:  'We have a long-term issue we need to solve. If we don't we will have a generational problem with workplaces and society.

'Some children are so apathetic. They don't care about anything.

'They are buried in their phones.'

To reduce the impact of phones on students' education, O'Neill suggests using 'brick' phones.

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O'Neill suggests using 'brick' phones and limiting social media for students. Image Credits: Getty

O'Neill encourages the use of 'brick' phones and smartphones without any social media apps installed to track their location.

Additionally, he hopes that students can experience childhood play outdoors rather than spending time on their phones in their bedrooms.

Furthermore, O'Neill emphasized parents' responsibility to educate their children.

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O'Neill emphasizes parents' responsibility in educating and keeping children safe online. Image Credits: Getty

O'Neill also emphasized that parents have a responsibility to keep their children safe online. He suggested that those who fail to do so should be reported to social services or prosecuted.