The provincial government feels that student cellphone use in class is an issue, and has issued a “phones off” edict for the coming school year.
Ontario's minister of education, Stephen Lecce, recently announced plans to move forward with restricting the use of phones and other devices in classrooms beginning Nov. 4, 2019.
"When in class, students should be focused on their studies, not their social media," said Lecce. "That's why we are restricting cellphones and other personal mobile devices in the classroom, while making sure technology is available to help students achieve success in the digital economy and modern workforce."
The restriction is meant to have kids focus on their instructional time at school. However, exceptions will be made if cellphones are required for health and medical purposes, to support special education, or for educational purposes as directed by an educator.
Innisdale Secondary School teacher Robin Malandrino says student cellphone use is a problem, but that there those who know when it's best to put the phone down and learn.
Malandrino isn’t looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead for educators.
“Motivated learners know when it is appropriate to access their personal devices,” Malandrino said. “Teachers have been able to use discretion up until now. Enforcement of this ‘law’ will be a challenge for school boards to enforce, as support for teachers and students will have to be strong and vigilant.
“This situation is further compounded by decreasing numbers of caring adults in each school," Malandrino added. "Little of what we teach requires students to have a cellphone, though access to technology is invaluable. In some schools, lack of access can be overcome by letting students use their own devices.”
Malandrino believes that the teacher will still make the ultimate call on phone use in their class and says this is a way to distract the public from other issues that need dealing with
“The landscape will be interesting this fall, but I suspect that, despite this heavy-handed announcement from the education minister, cellphone use in classrooms will continue to be at the discretion of the teacher,” said Malandrino. “Big announcement, but likely to distract the public from contract negotiations and harmful cuts to education.”
During the fall of 2018, 97 per cent of parents, students and teachers involved in an education reform consultation said they believe cellphones should be restricted in some way.
St. Joseph’s Catholic High School student Caleb Penna will be affected by the ban, but agrees with it.
“It is definitely a good rule, because kids are on their phones way too much, not for education purposes but for their social media,” said Penna. “It isn’t just their fault, either. I see a lot of teachers not bothering to get involved and telling them to put the phones away.”
