THUNDER BAY – Students and parents are being reminded of strict new mobile device use rules at school, with classes set to resume in less than two weeks.
The Ford government earlier this year announced changes to the use of cell phones and other devices in classrooms, limiting them for educational purposes, as directed by an educator, for health and medicinal purposes and to support special needs.
The province has set out guidelines specifically aimed at students, complete with consequences for breaking them.
The change was announced this past April and Ontario Premier Doug Ford at the time said he had a simple message to students.
"The teachers want the kids to pay attention, it's as simple as that," Ford said. "It's not that complicated: Don't use the phones."
In elementary schools, for students in junior kindergarten to Grade 6, personal mobile devices, defined as any device that can be used to either communicate or access the internet, must be stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode throughout the full instructional day.
It will be up to individual schools to determine how phones and other devices are stored, which could include being kept in lockers, in backpacks or with the student themselves. Students will also have a secure storage option, such as a locker or a class lockbox.
Should an educator in an elementary school see a device not stored out of view, the device in question must be handed in for the remainder of the instructional day and placed, by the student, in a storage area or location designated by the school principal.
For students in Grade 7 or above, similar rules apply, but only during instructional time and devices will be handed back once the current period ends.
At the time of the announcement, a local teachers' union representative expressed concern about enforcement.
"I think it's going to be a big challenge for teachers to manage and for administration to manage in schools. I think students are definitely addicted to their phones and like to have them," said Dave Paddington, president of the local Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario chapter on April 30.
"It really is a big piece of their social world and I think that's going to be one of the biggest challenges that staff and schools (are) going to find."
Schools will be asked to develop and communicate a plan to address student infractions and any resulting consequences.
A student who refuses to hand in a personal mobile device when asked to do so will be sent to the principal’s office. The principal, at this point, will determine the consequences, which could include suspension.
