When mobile usage crosses the limit

The influence of school education and teachers plays a crucial role in shaping a person's character. Currently, there are several undesirable trends emerging among our school students. This doesn't mean that all students are going down the wrong path. The majority of schoolchildren study and behave well. Substance abuse and tendencies towards violence are exhibited by a small minority. However, this can create a bad reputation for all schoolchildren. We need to question whether it is right to spread isolated incidents widely through social media.

The home environment has a significant influence on how some children behave unnaturally, both at school and elsewhere. The living conditions of parents can greatly impact a child's behaviour. Teachers need to adopt a psychological and human approach to understanding the reasons behind such unnatural behaviour. They should also be trained to handle such situations. It is not wrong for school authorities to prohibit students from bringing mobile phones to school. However, if a student does bring one, it is best to confiscate it and return it after the school day with a warning not to repeat it. It is wrong to exaggerate such incidents into major offences and label the child as a criminal.

In Victor Hugo's novel 'Les Misérables', the thief Jean Valjean steals silver utensils and other things from a bishop's house, and when the police bring him in, the bishop lies to protect him, claiming that he gave them as a gift. The focus should not be on whether the bishop lied or not. It is easy to label someone as a criminal, but if a "lie" helps transform that person into a better human being, then it should be accepted. Similarly, in the case of the student who brought a mobile phone to class, after confiscating it, the best course of action is to return it with a warning. It was wrong for the student to threaten the teacher in the principal's office in such an inappropriate manner, and it is wrong to spread this incident widely in society through social media. Such issues should be resolved within the walls of the school. If the student has realized his mistake and apologized, the matter should be considered closed.

This incident also points to the major issue of excessive mobile phone usage among children. Using a mobile phone for extended periods of time, whether by parents, children, or teachers, is not appropriate. A speech by political leader and MP ET Mohammed Basheer, citing a doctor from Sree Chitra, stating that giving young children mobile phones to use for watching games and other activities has become a major cause of brain tumours, has gone viral on social media. Parents who tell their children not to use mobile phones should not be using them constantly in front of their children, as this is also inappropriate. This excessive use of mobile phones is harmful not only to children but to everyone.