School moves teachers behind pupils to curb off-task screen use

Fredericia Friskole has moved teachers to the back of classrooms while pupils work on computers, to help prevent them from using screens for non-school activities. The change was reported by DR.

Bastian Hagge, 15, is in ninth grade at the school. He says having his teacher behind him makes him feel more obliged to concentrate and get on with his work.

The school introduced the arrangement for pupils in fifth grade and above after finding that they used their screens to shop, watch films and play games during lessons, head teacher Carsten Jensen said.

Jensen said removing screens from lessons would only shift the problem. Computers and phones are part of society, he said, and pupils need to learn how to use them.

Teacher Benjamin Johansson said he has noticed less gaming during lessons since teachers began watching what pupils do on their screens. Hagge said he thought the arrangement was acceptable, though it took some getting used to and could sometimes make him feel watched.

Johansson said he sees the measure as a way to help pupils take responsibility for their screen use, rather than as surveillance.