To parents and teachers, the debate often seems like a simple yes-or-no question: Should cell phones be banned in schools?

From our perspective as a school network, this view falls short. What really matters is the quality of the guidelines: Are the rules clear, fair, practical for everyday use, and based on educational principles? And are they actually followed in daily life?

Proponents of a general ban on smartphones in schools emphasize greater calm, concentration, and the protection of minors, while critics point out that media literacy isn’t fostered simply by taking devices away. A middle ground therefore seems particularly sensible: clear rules go hand in hand with educational guidance.

This is precisely the approach we take at Phorms.

One example of this is the Josef-Schwarz-Schule: There, students in Years up to 10 are not allowed to use personal cell phones on school grounds.

At the same time, personal smartphones are no longer used for educational purposes either. Instead, the school provides its own digital devices for this purpose.

This is important because digital tools are naturally part of instruction when they meaningfully support learning—for example, in research, collaboration, or creative projects. But the context is different because their use is pedagogically guided.

It is just as important to us to teach students media literacy. That’s why we specifically address questions at our schools such as: What role does my cell phone play in my life? Do I always need to know what others are doing right now? How do I recognize peer pressure, comparison, and the pull of social media? And how do I handle class chats, social media, algorithms, and targeted advertising responsibly?

At the Josef-Schwarz-Schule, for example, this is supplemented by collaboration with external partners who provide parents and students with practical information about online risks and how to handle them effectively.

For us, it’s clear: Good smartphone rules aren’t a rejection of the digital world, but rather a framework within which children and teens learn to navigate it thoughtfully and responsibly.