Smartphones for the current generation are the cigarettes of my generation.

They are a status symbol, a way to fit in or rebel, and are proven to be bad for young people’s mental health.

Their endemic use is at pandemic proportions across the globe and is destroying a generation’s mental health.

Confidence and social skills are crucial in the development of children. Burying a child’s head in a mobile to scroll away the day disables children from learning key socialisation and life skills.

This is before we look at the vindictive way they’re used to demean or bully children 24 hours a day, or record and share images of children being humiliated.

Hungary, Netherlands and Australia are all banning phones in primary and secondary schools. Sweden and other countries are in the process of passing similar nationwide restrictions. Why can’t we?

The SNP Government aspire for Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow up, yet won’t protect our children from the detrimental impact of smartphones in schools.

Schools that have banned smartphones note a significant improvement in academic results, engagement in sport and increased connection with peers.

A campaign started in Dunbar 18 months ago called for smartphones to be banned in high school.

More than 250 parents signed the petition. In North Berwick, the ‘Smartphone Free Childhood’ campaign now has over 250 signatures. This is all due to parental leadership.

So why isn’t more happening in East Lothian?

The Scottish Government has shown a lack of leadership by placing the responsibility to ban phones on school leaders, which makes implementation harder.

But at least the Cabinet Secretary states: “I will support any headteacher who decides to institute a ban on mobile phones in their school.”

Meanwhile, East Lothian Council has this week clouded the water with a lily-livered letter to all parents that states that a “unilateral ban is impractical” because there might be one or two children who need a phone to aid learning.

This is a feeble excuse, as diverse learning needs and exceptions can always be accommodated.

Why is East Lothian Council not listening to parents and setting an expectation that schools should ban smartphones?

Hiding behind young people’s ‘voice’ to keep hold of their addiction is avoiding and demeaning our role as parents and teachers who should stand up for what is right and do it now.

As an expert in youth participation, the way we do transactional consultations with young people is insulting to children and removes our responsibilities as teachers and parents to do the right thing.

I would like to see some leadership that is good for the health and education of our children and community.

We would be appalled if a parent gave a child a cigarette today – how long till we’re shocked that a child has a smartphone?

Duncan Dunlop

East Lothian Liberal Democrats