Achi news desk-
Ontario is introducing a package of measures to reduce cell phone use and vaping in schools.
The new rules will go into effect in the 2024-2025 school year.
Starting in September, kindergarten through sixth grade students will be asked to keep their phones on silent and out of sight throughout the day, unless permission is given by an educator.
Students between grades 7-12 have a little more flexibility, with cell phones only prohibited during class.
If a student breaks the rules, their cell phone must be turned in immediately to staff members and parents will be notified.
“We’ve heard loud and clear from parents and teachers alike that cell phones in classrooms are distracting kids from learning,” Education Minister Stephen Leche said in a statement released Sunday.
“When it comes to cell phones, our policy is ‘out of sight and out of mind’ as we bring students back to the basics by restoring focus, safety and common sense to Ontario schools.”
As part of the new policy, social media sites will be banned from all school networks and devices. The government will also ban the sharing and recording of videos or images of people without express consent, although it is unclear how this will be monitored or enforced.
At a press conference, Leche told reporters that teachers’ judgment would be respected about when and how technology would be used in the classroom.
“It’s about bringing back the focus while teaching,” Leche said. “Also, during lunch or recess or vacations, we’re going to try to treat the kids with a sense of personal responsibility.”
Teachers will also be asked to include notes on student distraction levels in the classroom within report cards.
Lynn Poslons, president and CEO of the Women’s Brain Health Initiative, welcomed the change.
“While we know that social media and screens can be helpful tools if used correctly, too much screen time or bad effects on social media can harm a developing brain — whether it’s inside or outside the classroom,” she said in a statement, noting. Their research points to “disturbing trends toward increasing screen numbers and decreasing sleep times.”
“We must use this opportunity to educate teachers, parents and children about ways they can reduce the risk of overuse of technology and why it is harmful to their mental health.”
The policy changes come as four Ontario school boards launch lawsuits against multiple social media platforms, alleging their products negligently interfere with student learning and have caused “widespread disruption to the education system.”
The lawsuits allege that Snapchat, TikTok and others “knowingly and/or negligently disrupted and substantially altered the school [and] learning.”
Prime Minister Doug Ford called the lawsuit “nonsense.”
The Progressive Conservatives tried to implement a cell phone ban in 2019, asking school boards to come up with policies limiting use for educational, health and medical purposes during class. The changes to district and school codes of conduct clarified the restrictions that apply to students on school grounds, at school-related events or in virtual settings.
Those exempted will remain in place, confirmed the minister.
Leche said the only difference between the 2019 policy and the 2024 policy is that there is consistency across the province.
“This time we are going to update the curriculum so that it includes mandatory learning for young children about the dangers of vaping and the responsible use of technology, especially concepts like digital citizenship.”
Karen Littlewood, president of the Ontario Federation of Secondary School Teachers, told CP24 she sees no difference in policy.
“Many schools have policies about cell phones. They are a problem and we fully support addressing mental health issues in schools, bullying and harassment, but I’m not really sure how a ban will solve the problems we have right now in education,” she said.
“We are going to spend a lot of time policing cell phones and not teaching.”
The minister said that success will be measured by academic achievements and test scores.
What changes with evaporation?
The government has already announced in the 2024 budget that it will spend $30 million to install smoke detectors and other security upgrades in schools.
Students who are caught with vaping products or electronic cigarettes on school grounds starting in September will be required to hand them in and parents will be notified immediately.
The government will require schools to post signage in public spaces outlining “behavioral expectations” and will launch a marketing campaign targeting students and parents to increase awareness of the new policy.
The price tag for these changes is approximately $17.5 million, with $15 million earmarked for addictive behavior support.
Officials say PA Day will be used to provide teachers and staff with mandatory training on methods to remove distractions.
