Nowadays, modern technology makes our daily living much easier and more convenient, but there’s also an increased amount of research linking digital technology to decrease physical activities among children.
This is what prompted these two schools in Leyte to implement a gadget ban during class hours. The said ban is implemented in both Doane Schools in Leyte: the Doane Baptist School and the Doane Christian Academy in Leyte. It appears that the schools have found a better way to encourage their students to go out and play outside, and the amazing effects it has brought to its students have been noticed.
They have decided to ban the use of ipads, smartphones and other gadgets among their students while inside their school premises.
Instead of mobile gadgets, the students were encouraged to play physical activities that have an important role in the development of children, which also a great way for them to release stress and promote healthy growth and development.
Doane schools’ Pastor Administrator, Joshua Hocson, decided to issue the ban after he received complaints from parents and teachers that students are spending too much time on mobile games.
Hocson told Moms and Babies, “It was to make them focus on their studies and other academic responsibilities. Also, I noticed that during school events, instead of participating, other students would prefer playing mobile games.”
“Mobile games [is] just like smoking or illegal dr4g use, [which] can cause a person [to] be 4ddicted to it. So we want to break that culture of spending almost all of your time checking your phone. We do it not just by banning it but by counseling as well,” he added.
Since the schools banned the use of smartphones and gadgets, the students now spend more time at the library to study, while some would enjoy playing board games like chess or engaging in sports like basketball. Students have also learned to play more physical Pinoy games such as langit-lupa, Chinese garter, piko, and taguan during their free time.
The schools’ Pastor Administrator also said that the students have improved their academic performance and developed better interpersonal skills, and since the response is positive they are planning to keep this gadget ban to run for years.
source: virtualpinoy