Phones and MP3 players are soon to be too dangerous for Schools

Currently, teachers have the power to search pupils for knives or other weapons. However, in a new government policy that was announced on 6 July in a written statement to Parliament from Schools Minister Nick Gibb, it was made clear that these powers were to be extended.



The controversy lies in the fact that Mr. Gibb also plans to add to the above list of items those which are considered so undesirable or dangerous that students must be forced to surrender their civil liberties and allow teachers to search them.


From the autumn this will include fireworks, legal highs – i.e. completely legal chemicals - pornography, cigarettes and "personal electronic devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players and cameras".


Whilst there does seem some obvious benefits in keep such contraband items off schools premises, there also seems to be some fairly obvious problems with such drastic measures.


Not least a pupils right to privacy, or a teacher being asked to do more than they are trained to do, but how about the teacher/pupil relationship? Surely this is one based on trust and soon to be destroyed by the need to be searched. Should the human rights argument be defeated, there is also one based in the preservation of modern technology.


As technology continues to perpetuate, should we not encourage the next generation to embrace new technology and learn to use it properly?