It has been four years since this French school banned the use of cell phones – and while some people might have expected negative backlash, the students and teachers are quite happy with the regulation.

According to The Guardian, the 290 teenager pupils at La Gautrais Middle School in Plouasne have displayed “more social interaction between children, more empathy and a readiness to learn at the start of lessons”.

Students are talking and playing more at recess; the youngsters are active and engaged on school field trips, rather than staring at screens; and they say that they are closer with their friends as…