Phones banned from Alberta classrooms starting fall 2024

“Parents, teachers, students and our education partners were clear that the use of personal mobile devices and social media in the classroom was of concern,” Nicolaides said.

“We’re taking a measured approach to protect students by restricting the use of personal mobile devices during instructional time to reduce distractions and bullying, maximize learning time and support student mental health.”

While school boards already possess the autonomy to set their own phone bans, policies vary widely across the province, officials said. The new provincial rules will standardize the rules.

Similar classroom phone bans were implemented in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.

Schools will also be able to block certain social media platforms from their internet networks.

About 90 per cent of the some 68,000 parents, teachers, students and principals surveyed by the government about cellphone use in schools said they were concerned and agreed with the limitations.

Chantel Flaig, a parent of a Grade 1 student at a public school in Medicine Hat, approved of the new limitations.

“I agree with this,” Flaig said.

“Kids already have too many distractions in class with some of it being taught digitally now.”

Debbie Senior, another student’s parent, agreed with phones being a distraction but questioned taking them away completely.

“[Phones] should be away on silent but as a parent I also have a child that focuses better with having music on,” Senior said in a post to social media shared with CHAT News.

“If a parent needs to contact them in an emergency their phone will be easier than trying to get a hold of the school and having to go through a bunch of people.”

Alberta’s new rules will establish restrictions, enforcement procedures and exceptions for students in the public, separate, francophone, public charter, independent school systems.

The ban will also apply to early childhood services operators.

Exceptions will be made for students using mobile devices for health and medical needs, to support specialized learning needs and for educational purposes, officials said.

Students who use their phones to monitor blood sugar levels, for example, will receive an exemption to the limitations.

Daniel Tieman, a substitute teacher for Medicine Hat catholic and Prairie Rose school divisions, is in favour of the restrictions but said they don’t go far enough.

“I have spent a ridiculous amount of time policing use instead of instruction or instructional support,” Tieman told CHAT News.

“I think that this is well-intentioned but will not curb the amount of distractions as they intend. Educators and administrators will still have to police devices and IT will have to work at blocking content.”

The Alberta Teachers’ Association, often critical of Alberta’s changes to education policy, expressed support for the ban.

“The ATA is pleased to see that the government’s direction reflects ATA policy in keeping students focused on their learning while balancing situations when technology can be used to meet medical and learning needs or outcomes,” association president Jason Schilling said.

“Teachers and school leaders look forward to having the support of government and school boards as they implement this new policy.”

Local school authorities will share details on their policies and rules with parents and guardians over the coming weeks and months, the province said.

There will be little impact on kindergarten to Grade 6 students at the Medicine Hat Public School Division but the province’s ban will mean greater limitations for those in Grades 7 to 9, a spokesperson told CHAT News.

by Eli J. Ridder

Phones banned from Alberta classrooms starting fall 2024

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