Please stop implementing/changing existing policies and focus on more important things such as education and student wellbeing.

For example, the consequences for the new phone policy;

Whilst I 100% understand that time off of a mobile device is a good thing and that it should not be used for non-essential purposes during class time, the consequences of obtaining a mobile device during school, including breaks such as recess and lunch, is too harsh.

In my opinion, there should be no such justifiable reason to have a mobile device taken off of a student for over a week, let alone being the second strike. This kind of punishment is not only dehumanising, but can potentially cause serious safety issues outside of school. It prevents the student from being able to contact their parent/guardian, or in the worst case scenario, call emergency services if something goes wrong. It also prevents the student from being able to check their timetable before school, and during breaks. 

Second of all, I sincerely believe that the first warning should not be enough to warrant a full-day confiscation and an email. This kind of punishment is not only mildly harsh for a first time offense, but to give such punishment to a first time offender is highly dependant on what the student was trying to do. For example, a Year 9/10 may be have been checking their job interview status, or more importantly, a student may have received a highly important text/call from their parent/guardian for personal reasons. If a student has their phone confiscated due to an important reason like this, not only is it dehumanising, but it is also a very harsh punishment for a first time offence.

To conclude, whilst I do believe that there should be moderation in having access to a mobile device during class time, I thoroughly believe that the consequences of having possession to one during school time is way too far, even if the device is not being used. A better solution to this problem would be to review the situation case by case, and give them a punishment based on what they were doing on their mobile device. 

Secondly, please give students their classes earlier and do not leave it until the day they start school:

Students need to prepare themselves mentally as to who is in their classes for the year, in advance to when school starts. This year, classes have come out later than expected, and therefore it reduces the time required for students to prepare themselves for who they will be working with for the year. 

I believe that this has been an overly under looked factor compared to last year. Knowing one's classmates beforehand can significantly reduce the anxiety and stress associated with the start of a new school year and can allow teachers to make last minute changes if the student believes that they have been put in a class that will hinder their ability to learn, or even their mental wellbeing and safety.

Conclusion:

To conclude, I believe that the school should have their policies well and thoroughly reviewed before being put into place, as some of the consequences for being in possession of a mobile device is outright unjustifiable and ridiculous in my opinion. The school should be focussing on more important things such as the content students learn in class as my son who attended Year 9 last year has expressed how he has learnt almost nothing in the English course.

Please share this petition with fellow members of our community including both students, parents and staff! �

(This petition is about the Luther College located in Croydon Hills, VIC, Australia)