At the start of the 2024-2025 school year, the Ontario Government started its back-to-basics plan. The new plan resulted in many school changes, including phones banned during class, social media banned on school devices, and stricter enforcement for bans on vapes and other drugs. I think these changes help students stay more focused by keeping phones out of sight to reduce the need to check them and lessen the noise caused by phone notifications.
Ontario had already implemented some phone restrictions in 2019, but ways to enforce the limits were left vague. As part of the new education plan, officially known as Policy/Program Memorandum No. 128, students in Grade 7 and above are not allowed to use their devices during class time except when instructed by teachers. Phones should be turned off or silenced when not in use, however students are still able to use their devices during breaks.
To discourage students from still using their phones during class, teachers can ask students to place their phones in a separate area in the classroom. Teachers can also write report card comments about classroom distractions such as the use of phones during class.
These changes have helped students stay more focused in class. Fewer students have their phones out, which helps reduce the temptation to check them constantly. Since phones are supposed to be in bags and not on students’ desks, checking your phone during class is a time consuming process. Students would have to search their bags instead of easily grabbing their phones from their desks.
Keeping phones silenced also reduces distractions for all students. Occasionally, phones receive notifications during class, distracting both the student it belongs to and nearby students as well. Keeping phones on silent removes that extra noise.
I think the threat of having your phone taken away from you, even if it is placed somewhere easily accessible, helps to keep kids focused. If nothing else, trying to stay focused saves you the embarrassment of giving up your phone to the teacher because you were using it during class.
Image Credits: Bal D.
THE NORTH STAR 