“Meet, Eat, Feet”: One Year On

11 February, 2025

Over a year ago, Aiglon College introduced the “Meet, Feet, Eat.” approach to mobile device use. At the time, this policy stood apart from schools that had opted for a complete ban on mobile phones during the school day. It still does. One year on, I want to reflect on why this approach, one that sets clear boundaries while fostering self-regulation, is so fundamentally Aiglon.

A Balanced Approach to Technology

Rather than banning mobile phones, Aiglon’s “Meet, Feet, Eat” policy is built on the school’s guiding philosophy of balancing mind, body, and spirit. It reflects our commitment to self-discipline, personal responsibility, and holistic development.

Technology is an integral part of modern education. By regulating its use rather than prohibiting it, we encourage students to integrate digital tools into their learning in a way that promotes intellectual growth, critical thinking, and independence. The ability to manage distractions, adapt to different environments, and engage meaningfully with both digital and real-world interactions is a vital life skill. Our students will have to navigate when it is appropriate and when it is not appropriate to use devices for the rest of their lives. So why wouldn’t schools help them to do this? Especially a school built on genuine connections between staff and students, in the classroom, in the boarding houses and on the mountain.

“Feet” – Looking Up and Taking it in

The “Feet” aspect of the policy is not just about safety—though that matters, too. We have all seen people walking with their eyes glued to their screens, oblivious to their surroundings. Encouraging students to walk with their heads up helps cultivate awareness, presence, and well-being.

And what a setting we have. Aiglon’s campus itself is a secret weapon for well-being—with every step across its beautiful landscape offering a chance to clear the mind, breathe in the mountain air, and feel connected to both people and nature. Students naturally navigate the campus without screens, reinforcing the habit of being present in the moment.

The Power of Clear Boundary Setting

By setting clear boundaries about mobile phone use, including meal times, meetings, meditations, lessons, and gatherings, the “Meet, Feet, Eat” approach provides students with daily opportunities to make the right choices about their device use. And they do.

This approach aligns with Aiglon’s guiding principles of challenge, respect, responsibility, diversity, and service:

• Challenge: Encouraging students to regulate their phone usage requires self-discipline.
• Respect: Creating screen-free communal spaces fosters genuine engagement with peers.
• Responsibility: Students learn to balance digital and real-world interactions.
• Service: Being fully present enhances the sense of community and belonging.

Some teachers have classroom routines that see students deposit their phone with the teacher at the start of the lesson, some teachers do not, instead they instruct students to keep them in bags and pockets. Other teachers encourage students to take pictures of their work/ experiments, complete online quizzes and use their phones when it is appropriate. A blanket rule does not fit every situation.

Education, Not Restriction

Aiglon’s approach to mobile phones is not about control—it is about education, respect, and responsibility. Rather than imposing blanket bans that ignore the realities of modern life, we teach students how to manage their technology use wisely, helping them develop the self-discipline they will need beyond school.

The One Exception: Sleep Matters

There is one area where we do enforce a ban—at night. Sleep is vital for everyone, and students in Years 5–11 hand in their phones before bed. However, Years 12–13 are given the freedom to keep theirs, preparing them for life after Aiglon, where they will have to manage their own routines. Though some students in these years choose to hand their phones in also. 

Aiglon’s Approach in the Digital Age

One year on, it is clear that the “Meet, Feet, Eat” approach works. It helps students navigate the complexities of the digital age with awareness, discipline, and balance. By setting clear expectations rather than imposing outright bans, we create an environment where students develop essential life skills, preparing them for success, both at Aiglon and beyond. Though I do think one year on we should be renaming our policy “Meet, Feet, Eat, Sleep”.

Darren Wise, Director of IT, Aiglon College