the broken typewriter

A decade after developing a policy on cellphone use in schools, the Provincial government has finally caught up to School District 60, and developed guidelines for boards of education throughout British Columbia.

“It was the board’s desire to do this,” said Superintendent of Schools Stephen Petrucci at the May 21 school board meeting. But until now, they “lacked the ministry’s guidance.”

In 2014, when the district first developed its policy on cellphone use in classrooms, it noted that frequent cellphone interruptions in the classroom, cyberbullying, online exploitation of young people and addictive algorithms of social media platforms were all having a negative impact on instruction, learning and students’ mental health.

The guidelines produced by the province reflect these issues, so the district is going ahead with its restrictions, which now meet provincial government requirements.

While students have access to school or district-owned technology at age-appropriate levels, the use of “personal internet-connected devices” will be restricted, with the backing of the provincial government. Use of personal devices during school hours is already restricted in the school district, but now there will be a consistent application of these restrictions.

At the elementary level, there will be no access to devices during school hours. In the middle schools and high school, the use of devices won’t be permitted during class time, although an exemption can be made when their use supports a specific curricular objective and is part of instructional planning, according to a letter Petrucci sent to parents last week.

For example, students can be exempted from the restrictions if they have an Individual Education Plan, a Learning Support Plan or a health plan which indicates the use of internet-connected devices are needed for full inclusion in a specific learning activity.

If students must bring a device to school, it’s up to them to make sure their devices are secured, by locking them in their lockers or in another secure location if there are no lockers.

Petrucci said that teachers won’t be taking cellphones away from students, that school principals are responsible for discipline and consequences.

Bert Bowes and Dr. Kearney will be sending out a letter to parents to address this policy, Petrucci said.

Trustee Thomas Whitton noted that European students are not allowed cellphones in school at all, something he learned from hosting exchange students in recent years.

The policy will take effect on September 1, 2024, throughout School District 60.