Hugh Grant slams ‘ridiculous posh private schools’ as he calls for laptop and tablet ban in classrooms: ‘It’s pathetic’
Hugh Grant has launched a scathing attack on the use of laptops and screens in schools, calling for them to be banned from classrooms before branding himself “another angry parent”.
The actor made his comments at an event hosted by advocacy group Close Screens Open Minds at Knightsbridge School in London last week.
He described himself as “another angry parent fighting the eternal, exhausting and depressive battle with children who only want to be on a screen”.
The father-of-five has joined forces with social psychologist Dr Jonathan Haidt and actress Sophie Winkleman to campaign against the increasing use of technology in education.
His criticism is particularly aimed at what he called “ridiculous posh private schools” for their approach to screen time and outdoor activities.
Grant expressed particular frustration about schools providing Chromebooks to students and said in his speech: “The final straw was when the school started saying, with some smugness, we give every child a Chromebook.
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“And they do a lot of lessons on their Chromebook, and they do all their homework on their Chromebook, and you just thought that is the last fucking thing they need, and the last thing we need.”
Within his speech, he reflected on his deep concern about the increasing reliance on technology in education and suggested many parents feared “rocking the boat” on the issue rather than share their worries.
Grant also criticised these schools for restricting outdoor play due to weather conditions and added: “They’re the ones saying they’re not going to play outside today because it’s raining, or they can’t go on the climbing frame because it’s windy.
“It’s pathetic. It seems to me that there is space here for a hero school, a set of schools, to break the mould.”
The actor suggested that schools would only change their policies when parents began to take action: “They’ll only listen because they’re scared of people leaving their schools and losing business.”
The Love Actually actor shares three children with his wife Anna Eberstein: John Mungo, 12, Lulu, nine, and Blue, seven.
He also has two children from a previous relationship with Tinglan Hong: Tabitha, 13, and Felix, 11.
The actor has been open about becoming a father later in life, starting at age 52 and previously shared: “I think I was a dried-up, middle-aged, golf-addicted Englishman. Then I had children and suddenly I had heart.”
Grant isn’t the only celebrity taking a stand against technology in schools, as ex-footballer Jamie Redknapp, actor Benedict Cumberbatch and singers Rachel Stevens and Paloma Faith have all signed the Parent Pact campaign.
Dr Jonathan Haidt, who appeared alongside Grant at the event, is campaigning for schools to be phone-free and advocates banning smartphone access for those under 14 and social media for anyone under 16.
Sophie Winkleman criticised the use of ChatGPT in education and slammed: “We were sold a dream that technology would revolutionise education. Billions of dollars and pounds later, where are we?
“Test scores are plummeting globally. The increased screen use is damaging children’s health.”
The Parent Pact campaign, which aims to delay giving children smartphones until age 14, has already gathered more than 100,000 signatures.