Smartphone is essential tool for normal life today. One can not even pay or use public transport without smartphone! Owning it should be basic human right, like wearing clothes!
Large number of students in Nederlands do not speak local language. Smartphone is essential for translation and communication with them. It also allows calling 911, and video/audio recording evidence, if there are any misunderstandings.
This rule feels like teachers are solving their problems at expense of students!
> Owning it should be basic human right, like wearing clothes!
NOT having to own an abusive manipulation tool should be a basic human right.
And let's be very clear about this: almost all apps are intentionally designed to be manipulative. Try disabling notifications for example, and most apps will whine and whinge and bully you until you enable it. The design of these things is thoroughly and profoundly abusive.
Never mind of course that "smartphone" in practicality means "Android and iOS", and "must give monies to this huge duopoly" is something I have a bone or two to pick with as well.
> Large number of students in Nederlands do not speak local language
I'm a parent. We're moving to the Netherlands next month. I just sent emails to the local taalschool in Hilversum (and two basisschools) to ensure that my daughters learn Dutch as fast as possible upon our arrival because learning the local language is critical for living a full life. Any parent who doesn't do this, except _perhaps_ for those who know they're on a short-term stint for work or similar, is being negligent.
There are people who do not want to learn Dutch. I sincerely wish all best to you and your kid. Please stay on her side, and not on side of some imagininary ideology.
> One can not even pay or use public transport without smartphone!
Children are not allowed to ride the bus inside the classroom either. So I guess we're okay.
> Large number of students in Nederlands do not speak local language. Smartphone is essential for translation and communication with them.
Nobody is doing this on a regular basis, except maybe during an intake session. If something exceptional comes up then the teacher can use their phone to translate.
> It also allows calling 911
Not going to try, but I'm not sure 911 works here. 112 is the emergency number (and that's an actual worldwide standard, works in the USA as well).
Large number of students in Nederlands do not speak local language. Smartphone is essential for translation and communication with them. It also allows calling 911, and video/audio recording evidence, if there are any misunderstandings.
This rule feels like teachers are solving their problems at expense of students!