Thurgau Cantonal Council Member Advocates School Cell Phone Ban after Utilizing device During Debate
THURGAU,SWITZERLAND – A Thurgau Cantonal Council member publicly called for a ban on mobile phones in schools following a council meeting last Monday,a move highlighted by the fact the council member was observed using their own phone and laptop during the debate. The proposal,brought forward by Tom Werner,centers on concerns about student distraction and addiction to platforms like TikTok,Snapchat,and Instagram.
Werner’s call for a ban comes amid growing debate over the role of technology in education. He cited the success of similar bans in other cantons, claiming students there have even expressed enthusiasm for the policy. According to Werner, 80 percent of teachers in thurgau are currently overwhelmed by the challenges presented by student mobile phone use.
During the council meeting, werner reportedly used his cell phone and laptop to manage personal tasks – including booking autumn holidays, ordering winter clothing, checking sugar beet delivery billing, and posting on Facebook – while other members were speaking. He then addressed the council, stating, “It is high time that we ban the cell phones at our schools. The young people are simply distracted too much… Of course we are also in favor of learning the handling of the digital world independently. But practice shows that they cannot.”
Following his speech, Werner instantly checked his Facebook account, noting he had received 25 likes on a post related to the topic he had just discussed. He then proceeded to a Wega meeting, stating the beer was “deservedly earned.”
