Teachers contacted by The Irish Times, all of whom speak on the condition of anonymity, describe pupils falling asleep in school after being awake \u201cuntil all hours\u201d with \u201cunfettered access\u201d to the internet.<\/p>\n
Most believe this access is resulting in low attention spans during class, so some pupils \u201cstruggle to grasp basic concepts\u201d.<\/p>\n
One primary schoolteacher based in Cork<\/a> recalls a student recently \u201cdozing against the railings during yard time\u201d, who told her he \u201cwanted to go to sleep\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I asked why he thought he might be tired, he said it was because he was on his phone until late into the night.<\/p>\n \u201cI have seen wonderful, engaged and clever children transform before my eyes into sullen, uninterested students. The only thing that changed was the introduction of a mobile phone,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n One woman who has taught at primary level for more than a decade says she has seen a \u201chuge difference\u201d in the attention spans of children in that space of time. She attributes this change to smartphones and tablets.<\/p>\n Describing a \u201cconstant battle\u201d to gain and keep children\u2019s attention in class, she says it is \u201cexhausting\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir ability to attend and engage with the world around them is fleeting and many are unable to experience the joy of being absorbed in a task. There are many children with listening and attention skills in the low seconds,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Teachers recount second-class pupils receiving smartphones as gifts for their First Holy Communion, believing this is impeding their ability to fully engage in class from a young age.<\/p>\n On the other hand, some describe a marked difference in the attention spans of students whose parents monitor and limit their screen time.<\/p>\n One secondary teacher in Dublin claims such students are \u201cbetter learners\u201d, have stronger concentration skills and less of a \u201cneed for everything to be so interactive all of the time\u201d.<\/p>\n However, most parents are \u201creluctant to confront the issue\u201d of screen time, a primary school principal in Co Limerick<\/a> says.<\/p>\n The woman, who has worked in education for more than two decades, believes parents are \u201cunwilling or unable\u201d to take back control of their children\u2019s devices, which is \u201crobbing\u201d children of skills and knowledge.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is the most concerning issue across the board. Teachers are banging their heads against the wall,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Alongside children coming to school \u201cexhausted\u201d from using devices late at night, she describes online bullying and \u201chorror stories\u201d of what young children stumble across online.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just beggars belief that parents continue to stick their heads in the sand despite increasing problems and growing evidence of the detriment to children. Teachers feel powerless without parents\u2019 support and intervention.\u201d<\/p>\n [\u00a0Are you a parent? The reason teaching is falling apart might hurt your feelingsOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Others working in education claim parents are largely \u201cin their own bubble of cluelessness\u201d, believing the Government<\/a> should \u201cstep in\u201d and implement an outright ban on smartphones for under-16s.<\/p>\n Some, however, remark how parents are \u201calready under so much pressure\u201d, working hard due to \u201chuge mortgages\u201d and the cost of living.<\/p>\n![\"One](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/RVDJIDB767KMAKNL2YUL7B7LIE.jpg\")
One woman who has taught at primary level for more than a decade says she has seen a ‘huge difference’ in the attention spans of children in that space of time. Photograph: Peter Byrne\/PA <\/p>\n