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New call to ban mobile phones in schools

Posted on March 17, 2009, 9:09am and updated on March 18, 2009 at 9:08 am

A leading adolescent psychologist has renewed a call for mobile phones to be banned in schools after viewing footage of Mount Gambier teenagers fighting.

A YouTube video posted last month shows local young people brawling at schools and public places.

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg has been the consultant psychologist to the Victorian Secondary Schools Principal’s Association and leading private schools in Melbourne. He was one of the founding members of the National Coalition Against Bullying.

“I do believe that this is more evidence for my call for a ban on mobile phones in schools — in a bid to prevent them being used to film fights between young people which are then posted on the internet,” he told The Border Watch.

“This happens, because some young people come to school with an array of psychological risk factors that predispose them to behave this way.

“These risk factors exist within themselves, their peers, their families, the school and the community.

“The issue is complex and there is no simple solution.”

Dr Carr-Gregg said a diet of violence as entertainment has led to “desensitisation to violence and a tendency to see violence as a problem-solving device.

“While I think some of these fights looked worse than they were, I am sure some of the participants were coerced in to fighting while bystanders use mobile phones to capture the violent clashes which are then posted on websites like YouTube and Bebo,” he said.

“Cell phones are about helping young people who have them to feel safe; they should not be about putting young people at risk.

“Banning mobile phones in schools is just part of the solution. It is not the only answer — there need to be some other deterrents.”

Meanwhile, police and school leaders have deplored the fights being recorded and posted online.

Ironically, those involved could face charges and disciplinary action based on the video evidence.

“Enquiries are being undertaken to identify those involved and where appropriate, any identified offences and offenders will be pursued,” Superintendent Trevor Twilley said.

“It is difficult to state whether these were actual assaults or in fact staged for the benefit of placing on YouTube given there have been relatively few reports of assault made to police involving these youths.

“Nonetheless, police take these matters seriously and will fully investigate the actions of those on the footage and where appropriate, take action to apprehend those responsible.”

MICHAEL GOREY

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