Bring in an age limit for smartphones | Letters

These devices should be regarded as potentially as destabilising as cars or alcohol, writes Siobhan O'Tierney. And Sushila Dhall laments parents who phub'

As a teacher, I am thrilled that the UN has called for a ban on mobile phones in schools (Report, 26 July). This is long overdue. Since the ubiquity of phones has been normalised, I've seen a parallel fall in pupils' concentration and retention, and a rise in demotivation. From my observations, the advance of smartphones has advanced the dumbing down of pupils.

School heads seem reluctant to challenge parents' sense of their right to contact a child at any time of day. I am frequently told by pupils - after asking them to turn off their phone and put it away- Oh Miss, I can't - it's my mum [or dad]. I have to answer them!"