Should students be allowed to bring their smartphones to school? That has been a question posed by both parents and educators alike since the advent of the digital age at the beginning of the new millennium, with proponents arguing against their use claiming that smartphones are an unnecessary distraction in the school environment. Consequently, opinions still remain divided on the matter with different schools adopting different approaches when dealing with devices that have been confiscated from students.
Teachers of religious boarding school burn smartphones confiscated from students
But in the case of one school, the drastic and unorthodox means by which they have chosen to punish students who have been caught with smartphones on their person have led to widespread debate among netizens online. A video clip that was recently uploaded by Indonesian media page @fakta.indo claims to show a group of schoolteachers standing around a fire that had been lit in an unused oil barrel, surrounded by students.
With smartphones in hand, all of which were said to have been confiscated from students, the teachers proceeded to then toss the electronic devices into the fire, one after another.
One teacher even held up what appears to be an iPhone, much to the shock of the spectating students given its lofty price-tag, before lobbing it all the same to join the rest of the charred and burnt smartphones.
Netizens debate over the need for such harsh punishments
According to Indonesian news site Suara.com, the incident had taken place in the compound of an Islamic religious boarding school with strict rules concerning the possession of smartphones among its student body. However, it is worth noting that there is no mention as to where or specifically, when the video was taken, as neither the students or teachers present appeared to be wearing any face masks.
Understandably, the video has led to many debates among netizens alike. Some have argued against the choice in punishment, pointing out that teachers had no right to destroy property that did not in fact belong to them.
“Educators by name, and yet they choose to set such a poor example. If something doesn’t belong to us, we have no right to destroy it. They could have confiscated it and then returned the phones to the students a week later.”
“Hey, there’s no reason to resort to this. What happens if the students need to start doing remote learning again?”
“Do they think that the parents of their students bought the phones with spit?”
Other netizens are in favour of the punishment, pointing out that the students knew well enough what the consequences were for bringing their smartphones to school and decided to do it anyway.
“Those who break the rules shouldn’t be afraid of punishments.”
“If the rules have already stated that smartphones are forbidden, then obviously these are the consequences they will have to face.”
“The rules of such boarding schools are often issued to parents beforehand in a letter. There’s nothing they can do or say.”
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