Are Handheld Fans Allowed in Schools? A Thorough Explanation of the "Convincing Reasons" Behind Permissions and Bans

2025年07月16日 16:21

Introduction: Background of Handy Fan Popularity
Four Benefits Highlighted by the "Pro" Group
Five Risks Raised by the "Con" Group
Latest Trends in School Rules and Guidelines
Voices from the Field: Interviews with Students, Teachers, and Parents
Seven Key Points for Safe Use
Future Discussion Points and Recommendations
Conclusion

1. Introduction: Background of Handy Fan Popularity

In recent years, summers have become extremely hot, with the Japan Meteorological Agency describing them as "disaster-level heat." It is not uncommon for the perceived temperature on urban school routes and inside school buildings to exceed 35 °C. In this context, pocket-sized handy fans have become a staple item for middle and high school students. The number of units shipped by mass retailers has increased 2.8 times compared to 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic, and "deco fans" with stickers of favorite characters are trending on social media.TBS NEWS DIG

2. Four Benefits Highlighted by the "Pro" Group

Reducing the Risk of Heatstroke
- Experimental results show a reduction in surface body temperature by 2–3 °C during activities in schoolyards or gyms with insufficient ventilation.Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Cooling Down During Breaks to Restore Concentration
- A school practice example shows that a group exposed to a fan five minutes before class had a 6-point higher accuracy rate than the group not exposed.
Becoming a Tool for Developing Self-Management Skills
- The school rules at Oita Prefectural High School were revised to allow use "in principle, except during class," and the student council conducted etiquette training.TOS Online
Improving Accessibility
- More schools are using them as reasonable accommodations for students with chronic conditions that make temperature regulation difficult.

3. Five Risks Raised by the "Con" Group

Noise and Visual Distractions During Class
- When a dozen or so fans are running simultaneously in a classroom, it creates a continuous noise of around 40 dB, making it difficult to hear the teacher's speech.TBS NEWS DIG
Battery Accidents Due to Drops and Impacts
- NITE has recorded 83 accidents involving portable fans over five years up to 2024, with 80% involving smoke or fire.FNN Prime Online
Fairness and Management of Personal Items
- A parent survey indicated that 20% pointed out that "the performance gap between expensive multifunction models and 100-yen shop products could be a trigger for bullying."
Burden of Charging Management
- A private school in Tokyo decided to ban them, citing that plugging and unplugging charging cables and shelf placement could cause trouble.TBS NEWS DIG
The "Unnecessary Argument" Due to Air Conditioning
- According to a Ministry of Education survey, the air conditioning installation rate in regular classrooms is 99.1%. A certain number of people judge additional devices as unnecessary.TBS NEWS DIG

4. Latest Trends in School Rules and Guidelines

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology July 2025 Survey: 92% of public middle and high schools have begun revising school rules, with about 35% adding "handy fans and heatstroke prevention goods" as an item.Kyobun
Municipal Guidelines: Cities like Kobe and Oita Prefecture have specified handy fans in the "Safe Use of Portable Electronic Devices" section, leaving the decision to allow them up to individual schools.Kobe City Official WebsiteTOS Online

5. Voices from the Field: Interviews with Students, Teachers, and Parents

Student"Since it became OK only during lunch breaks, afternoon PE is easier. But forgetting to charge is the worst." (2nd-year high school girl)
Teacher"Once we enforced the rule of switching to self-study five minutes before class, complaints about noise almost disappeared." (Tokyo Metropolitan High School teacher)
Parent"After learning about the dangers of battery swelling in a safety class, I chose a new model with my child." (Parent of a 1st-year middle school student)

6. Seven Key Points for Safe Use

Choose Products with the PSE Mark
Stop Using Immediately if Subjected to Impact ─ Consumer Affairs Agency column warning.Japan Patent Office
Do Not Use While Charging, Use Genuine Cables
Turn Off Power and Secure Blades Before Class
Maintain a Distance of at Least 30 cm from Adjacent Seats
Conduct Etiquette Training Led by Students
Dispose of in Municipal Recycling Collection ─ To prevent fire incidents.Abiko City Hall

7. Future Discussion Points and Recommendations

Climate Change and Updating School Environments
- In the future, a hybrid operation of ceiling fans and personal coolers should be considered.
Visualizing "Brought-In Gadgets" with IoT Management
- Research is underway to monitor noise, temperature, and battery status in conjunction with school Wi-Fi.
Democratizing the School Rule-Making Process
- By mandating tri-party consultations between student councils, parent associations, and teachers, and making annual updates routine, flexible responses become possible.

8. Conclusion

Handy fans are effective for heatstroke prevention but also carry physical and psychological risks, making them a "double-edged sword." The path schools should take is not a blanket ban or full permission, but rather creating balanced rules that "protect the learning environment while ensuring safety management and respecting student autonomy." We hope this article prompts your school to re-evaluate its rules and usage practices.

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