[Editorial] 'Smart Phone-Free School' Model from Samgoe High School in Hwaseong Should Be Expanded

Gyeonggi Province Superintendent of Education An Min-seok took office on July 1st and began his full duties. Superintendent An's educational policy emphasizes the need to recover the essence of public education. To this end, he announced plans to implement 'Gyeonggi-style Liberal Arts, Arts, and Physical Education (LAS) Education' and 'Local Recommendation Director Recruitment System.' He emphasized the importance of 'LAS Education' by stating, "We must develop the ability to imagine, judge, and think creatively, foster literacy that allows students to read many books, engage in discussions, and write well."

Among the policies introduced by Superintendent An, the one drawing nationwide attention is the 'Phone-Free School.' As his first major policy, the initiative aims to reduce smartphone use unrelated to educational activities during school hours. Through his SNS, he emphasized his conviction by stating, "Moving away from smartphones brings us closer to learning, and becoming free from smartphones allows schools to focus on educational activities." He further pledged, "To recover students' right to learn and restore schools' educational activities, we will expand the phone-free school initiative together with the educational community."

Superintendent An's phone-free school policy is not about forcibly confiscating smartphones from students. Rather, it emphasizes replacing mobile phones with books, playing instruments, and developing physical fitness. Moreover, Superintendent An believes that emphasis should be placed on students' autonomous decision-making rather than forced collection methods. Citing the example of Samgoe High School in Hwaseong, Superintendent An added, "Giving students time to discuss and autonomously decide, and exercising educational consideration, is democratic citizenship education."

On the 21st, Superintendent An attended a student council workshop at Samgoe High School in Hwaseong and delivered a special lecture on 'phone-free school.' Samgoe High School is a school that has already voluntarily implemented 'phone-free' for eight years. Through a grand forum involving students, parents, and teachers, as well as student council discussions, the school reached an agreement on 'banning smartphone use on campus.' (Related article: News S, 22nd, 'Gyeonggi Superintendent of Education An Min-seok, "Phone-Free Participating Students Are the Beacon of Korea"') As a result, students' class participation and concentration in autonomous study have improved. This year, six students were admitted to Seoul National University. The number admitted to Seoul National University is not what matters most. What is more important is that the school's academic atmosphere has changed since implementing 'phone-free.'

Superintendent An's first approved policy to change Gyeonggi education is the phone-free school. Public opinion is also positive. The phone-free school initiative pursued by Superintendent An would benefit from undergoing social discourse. In particular, students themselves must decide to limit their smartphone usage. In that regard, the decision made by Samgoe High School students, teachers, and parents who are voluntarily practicing phone-free deserves high commendation.