Soon, many Vancouver students will have to keep their phones silent and out of sight for the entire school day.
The Vancouver School Board (VSB) passed a motion Monday, June 12 requiring kindergarten to grade seven students to keep personal digital devices "on silent and out of sight" for the entire school day to "promote a focused learning environment."
Students may use their devices if they "get explicit permission from an educator."
The motion also directs the Superintendent to create a group of rights holders, district stakeholders, district leaders, and school leaders to "discuss lessons learned, share best practices to restrict student personal digital device use at school, promote online safety and support focused learning environments, and propose changes to Codes of Conduct as needed during the 2024-2025 school year."
The new rules are slated to commence on July 1.
In January, the B.C. government said it would start working with schools to restrict cell phone use in classrooms by the start of the next school year. It also planned to remove predatory images from the internet used for cyberbullying and extortion.
Vancouver parents react to new policy barring cell phones in schools
Many people questioned why children even need to have phones. A local parent with a child in grade five says none of her son's friends have phones.
What kids have cellphones at this age?!! Mine’s going into grade 5 and none of his friend’s have phones! I think the older kids are more the issue, no?
— Jules 🌻🇺🇦💙💛 (@Jules_bc2) June 11, 2024
Many locals expressed overwhelming relief that the devices were banned, questioning why they were "ever allowed in the classroom."
"Finally, some common sense!" wrote Alexis Dawn Fox.
I'm still trying to figure out why they were ever allowed in the classroom in the first place? Finally, some common sense!
— Alexis Dawn Fox 🐱❤🏃♀️🐶🍷🍺💙 (@Nekosmom) June 11, 2024
Several other individuals said they were "waiting for the highschool ban."
Waiting for the high school ban……..
— RMAC (@Roy018050462238) June 11, 2024
What about secondary schools?
— K (@K202424) June 11, 2024
Glyn Bough noted that the students entering high school will create larger problems once they regain access to devices.
And when they get them back in grade 8 the novelty of having them will cause high schools no end of problems.
— Glyn Bough (@GlynBough) June 12, 2024
User Salty Duke commented how "Kids are seriously addicted to their phones" and would likely have "meltdowns."
Interested to see how this turns out. Kids are seriously addicted to their phones...it's a serious issue. The meltdowns are going to be epic.
— Salty Duke (@the_salty_duke) June 11, 2024
Some parents feel it will be difficult to implement and properly monitor.
good luck implementing it
— yi 🗿🇨🇦 (@BrazenNumberYi) June 11, 2024
With files from the Canadian Press
