Teachers should be noticing fewer distracted students in the classroom as the school year gets going.
At least that's one of the intended outcomes of a new cellphone policy implemented by the Ontario government.
But not everyone believes limiting access is that simple and questions remain around enforcement.
Karen Littlewood, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, said despite the academic year being just days old, she's been hearing concerns about the policy from teachers and administrators.
"It’s already been challenging on how to deal with it," Littlewood said.
"We’ve asked our members and local leaders to send us their policies and boards are developing them. The ministry is saying 'these are the rules' but schools will have different policies across the province. You need more than just a rule to change a lifelong habit."
Littlewood said the consequences for using a cellphone at a non-approved time can include confiscation and sending a student to the principal's office for further discipline.
That too, has drawn criticism.
"Where do I put it as a teacher?" Littlewood said.
"What's my safe place, is it my drawer? What if someone gets the wrong phone back? I also don’t want to have somebody's $1,200 iPhone in my possession. There's lots of concerns."
The Waterloo Region District School Board is advising teachers to take an educational approach as students get used to the changes.
"We know change takes time," Bill Lemon, associate director at the WRDSB, said.
"Administrators will follow our existing guidelines regarding progressive discipline in response to any behaviour that conflicts with our code of conduct. As always, they'll be mindful of mitigating and other factors as they address behaviour."
According to the board's policies and procedures, progressive discipline can begin with verbal warnings and reviewing of expectations. A meeting with the family and withdrawal of other privileges are also options for escalating consequences.
In the event of cyberbullying, principals can levy suspensions and expulsions depending on the severity and number of occurrences.
While cellphone use will be limited in the classroom, there are still times where it'll be permitted. Those times include direction from teachers to use it for educational purposes, for health and medical purposes, to support a students' educational needs under their Individual Education Plan and during breaks for students in Grades 7 to 12.
Lemon points out that several schools within the board, including Preston High School, already had their own policies in place prior to this year.
"The first thing families and caregivers should understand is that a number of schools within the Waterloo Region District School Board have already successfully implemented no cellphone use guidelines," he said.
"So, WRDSB staff are taking an educational approach to implementing the ministry adjusted expectations for students this school year. We look forward to continuing to work hand-in-hand with students and families to better support their academic achievement and well-being throughout our school board."
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, meanwhile, recognizes the use of technology can be both beneficial and detrimental, senior manager of communications for WCDSB, Lema Salaymeh said.
As far as enforcement, it'll be leaving it primarily up to teachers and school administrators.
"Teachers will be responsible for ensuring compliance within their classrooms, while school administrators will provide support, address any violations, and, when necessary, handle the confiscation of devices," Salaymeh said.
"Our goal is that by minimizing distractions from devices, students will be more engaged with one another and the classroom content. We believe that fostering face-to-face communication will contribute to a healthy classroom environment and enhance key skills like collaboration, empathy, and a sense of connectedness to the world around them."
Littlewood agrees it isn't one-size-fits-all when it comes to the usefulness of cellphones in schools and she'd rather be talking about the larger issues in the educational system that have led to students becoming distracted in the first place.
"I'd like to be talking about appropriate funding, class sizes and resources," she said.
"I think this is something the government is talking about but the bigger issue is education hasn’t been funded appropriately for a number of years and this is the result."
