Thought for the day, 1 February 2024

Talked to a teacher this afternoon. He said the government's expectations on phones in schools were issued today. They replaced his school's existing policy that phones can't be used during class - a rule that was working perfectly well and everyone was happy with.

Under the new expectations, phones are 'away for the day': kids should have no access to them at all, except in certain circumstances. As the teacher said, he has better things to do during lunchtime than look out the window for minor infractions, then sprint across the quad after some year nine kid seen illicitly brandishing his Oppo. But that's only the tip of this iceberg of dickishness.

The teacher explained, a bunch of parents at the school are midwives. As you might be aware, childbirth is usually a difficult thing to schedule - so these mums need to be able to contact their kids at short notice. I'm on an urgent call-out. Could you pick up your brother? Dinner's in the fridge, just heat it up. Feed the cat, get the washing in. Love you. That sort of thing. 

You can probably imagine a million other scenarios that are much the same. Telling a kid that pick-up arrangements have changed: dad will take you to drama today. Checking in on a kid struggling with anxiety. Prompting a neurodiverse kid who needs a little extra organising.

Now these kinds of messages to students will need to go through the woman - and yes, she's a woman - in the school office. And those calls will likely be made by women - and yes, they're women - trying to be everything a mother's meant to be these days, caregiver, worker, tireless, perfect.

It’s not that any of us want our kids on their phones all day every day, even if we do it ourselves. I’m not unconcerned by the amount of time our kids spend on devices - and probably, neither are you. Problem is, this is another way to make women's unpaid labour just that little bit harder. Who would have thought a government headed by three conservative men would've missed this nuance?

That said, if this ban can protect even one child from watching NZ First people grabbing their crotches on TikTok, maybe it's worth it.

Thanks for reading! If you like The End is Naenae’s shenanigans, feel free to share this post, or become a paid or unpaid subscriber.