Canadians are expressing mixed feelings after Ontario announced it will be restricting the use of cell phones and banning vaping in schools.
On Sunday, the provincial government said it is introducing new measures to reduce distractions in classrooms and improve the health of children.
“We have heard loud and clear from parents and teachers alike that cellphones in classrooms are distracting kids from learning,” Minister of Education Stephen Lecce said in a statement.
“Our government is introducing the toughest policy in Canada to tackle this issue by cracking down on cell phone usage during class time, as well as banning vaping in all schools. When it comes to cell phones, our policy is ‘out of sight and out of mind,’ as we get students back to the basics by restoring focus, safety and common sense back in Ontario schools,” he continued.
As of September, students in kindergarten to Grade 6 will be required to keep phones on silent and out of sight for the entire school day unless explicitly permitted by an educator.
As for students in Grades 7 to 12, cell phones will be banned during class time. Moreover, social media websites will be removed from all school networks and devices, and report cards will include comments on students’ distraction levels in class.
According to a 2023 UNESCO report, there is a negative link between excessive cellphone use and student academic performance, so much so that students can take up to 20 minutes to refocus on what they were learning after a distraction.
Additionally, a CAMH study states that over a third of Ontario’s secondary school students (35 per cent) spend five hours or more daily on electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers, gaming consoles) in their free time.
In response to the news, independent organization People for Education says a cell phone ban is definitely needed, however, it is also important that the policy provides sufficient support for teachers and school staff.
“This is an example of policy announced quickly and perhaps without sufficient consultation. Schools are under a great deal of stress these days. Ontario’s new cell phone policy may help, but much more needs to be done to ensure all our students and our staff have the support they need to thrive,” the organization said in a statement to Now Toronto on Monday.
Online, some Canadians are sharing mixed reactions with some for and others against the move.
“Cell phones aren’t the problem. Understanding and influencing behaviour is,” one X user said.
“Cell phones were banned when I was in school too. Didn’t stop any of us,” another user said.
“Good luck enforcing that,” another user commented.
On the other hand, others applaud the new measures.
“They should be concentrating on education. It’s about time. Should have been done long ago,” an X user said.
“Should never have been allowed in the first place,” another user commented.
“Highly approve of this decision,” another user said.
VAPES, CIGARETTES AND CANNABIS BANNED IN SCHOOLS
In addition to the cell phone ban, the province is also banning vapes and cigarettes in schools. Students will be required to surrender these products and their parents will be notified of the situation.
In fact, the government is investing $30 million in the 2024 budget to install vape detectors and other security upgrades in schools.
Furthermore, the government is investing $17.5 million in new wrap-around supports for student mental health and parent engagement.
This includes $15 million to provide supports for students at risk of addictive behaviours, $1 million to partner with School Mental Health Ontario to develop webinars and resources for parents and students to talk about the effects of vaping and excessive cellphone usage and finally, $1.5 million to Parent Involvement Committees and students to run local prevention campaigns to help deter vaping and cell phone distractions.
