One week after introducing a surprise smartphone ban, the European School in Kirchberg reports an unexpectedly positive response from students.
One week after implementing a smartphone ban, the European School in Kirchberg opened its doors to our colleagues from RTL Infos to observe the effects of the new policy. Early responses to the measure appear largely positive.
The school introduced the ban at the start of the 2024/2025 academic year, catching many students by surprise. Caroll Lemarié, the deputy headmaster, admitted that initial reactions were far from enthusiastic. "It would be a lie to say that this news was greeted with a smile by the students," she said. Most students expressed disappointment on the first day. However, Lemarié noted that the policy was quickly accepted, even faster than she had anticipated.
A week later, feedback suggests that the ban has been well received, with some students even recognising its benefits.
Lucas, a third-year student, described the policy as a "good idea," especially for younger students. His only complaint is the restriction on using headphones, as he misses listening to music during the school day.
Elana, a sixth-year student, shared a similar sentiment. While she already spent considerable time interacting with her friend group, she has noticed more students engaging with each other who previously seemed "glued to their mobile phones."
Teachers and school administrators have also welcomed the change. Lemarié pointed out that before the ban, students often sat in silence, absorbed in their screens. Now, social interaction has noticeably increased, much to the satisfaction of the school staff.
A larger reason behind the smartphone ban was the growing number of cyberbullying cases the school had faced in recent years. Sabine Fass, the school psychologist, explained that some students had stopped attending school altogether due to issues with their peers, which often extended beyond the school grounds. Fass further noted that several students had come to her office too afraid to return to school because of incidents involving photos, messages, or situations posted on social media.
Lemarié emphasised that the decision to enforce the ban was not made lightly. She explained that it was the result of a year-long discussion involving parents, teachers, psychologists, educational consultants, and students.
The policy is now fully implemented and appears to have been largely accepted by the student body. This is encouraging news for the European School, which remains one of the first institutions in Luxembourg to take such a step.
In a related development, on Thursday, Minister of Education Claude Meisch announced a nationwide smartphone ban for primary schools across Luxembourg, set to be enforced by Easter 2025.
This aligns with a statement made by European School headmaster Martin Wedel, in which he suggested that the movement to restrict smartphone use in schools is gaining traction. Following similar actions in Belgium and the Netherlands, Luxembourg appears to be the next country to adopt this growing trend.
