Debating Matters: ‘Smartphones should be banned in the classroom’

Recorded at the Battle of Ideas festival 2024 on Saturday 19 October at Church House, Westminster.

ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION

Debating Matters is a sixth-form debating competition that has become renowned for its rigorous and intellectually challenging format – one that values substance over style and getting to grips with real-world issues. This is a one-off showcase debate for the Battle of Ideas festival between students whose challenge is to think through the thorny moral issues at the heart of the motion and the audience is sure to enjoy the high standard of debate.

The use of smartphones by children has become the subject of widespread debate – both in Parliament and within society more broadly. Their use has been linked to a range of poor educational outcomes and mental-health problems, leading many to call for an outright ban for those under 16 years old, particularly in school.

Jonathan Haidt, an American sociologist, has been influential in the discussion, arguing that the ‘between 2010 and 2015, there was a profound shift in the mental health of children and young people’. He ascribes this phenomenon to an increase in time spent online and a subsequent decrease in face-to-face socialising and play.  However, other sociologists have argued that just because the decline in mental health in the young coincides with the advent of the smartphone, doesn’t mean the latter is causing the former. In addition, by focusing specifically on smartphone use, to the exclusion of other factors, we may fail to address the real problems faced by young people today.

However, as many point out, the use of smartphones is a new phenomenon and one which should be studied and debated more widely. So, with that in mind, should smartphones be banned in the classroom?

DEBATE TEAMS:

Proposing the motion: The Burgate School

Debaters:

Lizzie Camfield – upper-sixth student studying A level Maths, Further Maths, Biology, and Philosophy and Ethics, hoping to study conservation at university.

Mollie Gennard – upper-sixth student currently studying History, Philosophy, and Ethics and Psychology, hoping to study Philosophy, Religion & Ethics at university.

Teacher: Mr Evan Bailey
Evan has taught maths and further maths at his current school for 23 years. He is also numeracy coordinator, Key Stage Five coordinator and Aim Higher coordinator. He is a keen music lover, crate digger and Manchester United fan.

Opposing the motion: Oakwood Park Grammar School

Debaters:

Ifan Bambury – lower-sixth student studying A-Level Politics, Religious Studies and English Literature, intending to study Politics at university. Ifan is starring in the Christmas pantomime at Maidstone Hazlitt Theatre.

Arthur Pavey – lower-sixth student studying A-level History, Politics and Religious Studies, planning to study Law at university. Arthur is an expert on the AV Referendum of 2011.

Teacher: Ms Abbie Hern
Abbie is head of sixth form and senior leader at Oakwood Park Grammar School (OPGS) in Kent. She teaches Politics and Sociology and holds an MA in History from Edinburgh University. Abbie has had the pleasure of seeing her OPGS teams take part in Debating Matters since 2015. After being a visitor to the Battle of Ideas in past years, she is delighted to see her students take part.

JUDGES
Murray Hancock
co-founder and convenor, The Brisbane Dialogues

Professor Ellie Lee
professor of family and parenting research, University of Kent, Canterbury; director, Centre for Parenting Culture Studies

Stan Swim
chief program officer, Bill of Rights Institute

CHAIR
Dr Mo Lovatt
national coordinator, Debating Matters; programme coordinator, Academy of Ideas