Ont. government bans cellphones in the classroom
The Ontario government has announced new rules aimed at cracking down on cellphones and social media use in schools, but not everyone is happy with the plan.
The new measures will go into effect for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Kids in kindergarten to Grade 6 will be required to keep phones on silent and out of sight for the entire school day.
Students in grades seven and up will see cellphone use banned during class time.
Educators can make exceptions, but if students use their phone without permission, the device may be confiscated.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the changes are aimed at reducing distractions in the classroom.
“When it comes to cellphones, 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,” Lecce said in a news release.
Reaction in Waterloo Region
The announcement got mixed reviews from students in Waterloo Region.
“I don’t think it’s really necessary to be honest,” said Tyler Quach, a Grade 10 student at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School in Cambridge.
“If they take it away for the whole day it kind of sucks,” Grade 12 student Lucas Parent said.
Another Grade 10 student, Christophe Kouyoumdjin, could see the positives.
“Kids are going to be more focused doing their work, they’re going to pay more attention,” Kouyoumdjin said.
As part of the policy, social media websites will be removed from all school networks and devices, the government explained.
Teachers will also be asked to include comments on students’ distraction levels in class within report cards.
In an email, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board said it was still determining how to apply the new policies.
“Implementing such changes across our schools will require careful planning and consideration to ensure compliance with the ministry’s direction,” the board said.
The Waterloo Region District School Board did not reply to request for comment.
What do teachers think?
The plan has drawn criticism from teachers’ unions, who say policing the ban will put even more pressure on educators who are already stretched thin.
“None of this is going to address the needs in Ontario schools right now,” said Karen Littlewood, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. “This is just an announcement of more policing, instead of an announcement of greater supports.”
Both the elementary and secondary school teachers’ unions say there were not approached by the province for any input on the ban. They say the move fails to address deeper issues students face in schools.
“We’ve got [teacher] recruitment and retention issues,” said David Mastin, vice-president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario. “Members don’t want to come into this profession, it’s just not worth it for them in a variety of areas. I think this will just add to that problem.”
The unions say it’s still unclear how the ban will be enforced.
-- With reporting from CTV's Tyler Kelaher and files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW How car thefts are impacting your insurance, even if your car isn't stolen
As the number of auto theft incidents rises in Canada, so have insurance premiums for drivers, even the ones whose vehicles aren't stolen.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
'I'm not wealthy': Ontario senior shocked she owes $40,000 in capital gains after gifting land
An Ontario senior who wanted to help her daughter and grandson eventually own homes one day decided to give them two lots on her property as a gift—but she didn’t know it would eventually cost her tens of thousands of dollars.
opinion Trump's Republicans falling far behind in fundraising, infrastructure
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, Washington political analyst Eric Ham explains how and why Republicans -- up and down the ballot -- are falling far behind Democrats in both fundraising and infrastructure.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
Canadians' interest in buying EVs fades as barriers, concerns remain: J.D. Power
A new study finds fewer Canadians say they're interested in buying an electric vehicle as concerns remain about limited driving ranges, high prices and a lack of charging stations.
McDonald's says US$18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
DEVELOPING Jurors in Trump's hush money trial zero in on testimony of key witnesses as deliberations resume
The jury in Donald Trump’s hush money trial is to resume deliberations Thursday after asking to rehear potentially crucial testimony about the alleged hush money scheme at the heart of the history-making case.