School cellphone ban now in effect
Learning in School District 60 should be free from cellphone interruptions this year now that the provincial government’s ban on personal internet-connected electronic devices has come into effect.
The province announced its plan to ban the use of cellphones in classrooms on May 22, announcing guidelines which were almost identical to a policy SD60 developed a decade ago. The district’s policy aims to provide students with a learning environment containing limited distractions and responsible use of digital technology.
From The Broken Typewriter’s May 27 article:
“It was the board’s desire to do this,” said Superintendent of Schools Stephen Petrucci at the May 21 school board meeting. But until now, they “lacked the ministry’s guidance.”
In 2014, when the district first developed its policy on cellphone use in classrooms, it noted that frequent cellphone interruptions in the classroom, cyberbullying, online exploitation of young people and addictive algorithms of social media platforms were all having a negative impact on instruction, learning and students’ mental health.
The guidelines produced by the province reflect these issues, so the district is going ahead with its restrictions, which now meet provincial government requirements.
While students have access to school or district-owned technology at age-appropriate levels, the use of “personal internet-connected devices” will be restricted, with the backing of the provincial government. Use of personal devices during school hours is already restricted in the school district, but now there will be a consistent application of these restrictions.
At the elementary level, there will be no access to devices during school hours. In the middle schools and high school, the use of devices won’t be permitted during class time, although an exemption can be made when their use supports a specific curricular objective and is part of instructional planning, according to a letter Petrucci sent to parents last week.
For example, students can be exempted from the restrictions if they have an Individual Education Plan, a Learning Support Plan or a health plan which indicates the use of internet-connected devices are needed for full inclusion in a specific learning activity.
If students must bring a device to school, it’s up to them to make sure their devices are secured, by locking them in their lockers or in another secure location if there are no lockers.
Petrucci said that teachers won’t be taking cellphones away from students, that school principals are responsible for discipline and consequences.
Updated Code of Conduct Addresses Cellphone Use
In conjunction with the new cellphone policy, the school board has updated its Code of Conduct, adding a section dealing with the restrictions on student use of personal internet-connected devices.
The Board of Trustees defines personal internet-connected devices as including, but not limited to, cell phones, tablet computers, smartwatches, and portable video game systems.
Research has shown that frequent cellphone interruptions in the classroom, the addictive nature of social media platforms, and the increasing level of cyberbullying and online exploitation of young people have a negative impact on instruction, learning and the mental health of students.
The Personal Internet-Connect Device Policy and the Code of Conduct came into effect on September 1, 2024.