Restrictions on mobile phones have received a second reading

Columbia Valley Pioneer employees

It would be a good idea for students in Rocky Mountain School District 6 to start preparing, at least mentally, to limit their cell phone use this fall.

The Ministry of Education’s inevitable new mandate has gone on second reading at a local authority meeting and will come into force in September as part of an updated “code of conduct” for students.

Section 2.7 of the Code recognizes that smartphones, smart watches and listening devices are used as ‘learning and inclusion tools’, but that such devices should not hinder or interrupt learning in the classroom.

All schools will restrict the use of digital devices in the classroom, except when a teacher requests their use for teaching purposes or when a student needs the device for medical or study purposes.

Each school will determine how these devices will be restricted, and students will be responsible for storing and securing their devices if they bring them to school.

One person who commented on the board’s proposed changes to the code said the wording was so “vague” that there was a high risk of the policy being ineffective.

“While appreciating that this is a complex issue, it still appears that it would be most desirable to present a strong policy from the outset.”

The person, whom the board did not identify, said local policy appears to shift responsibility to individual schools. “I think stronger guidance from the district would provide more consistency.”

Another aspect that the person questioned was the use of these devices as inclusive tools when not all students will have access to phones.

said Doug Murray, president of Local 4 (the teachers’ union). Pioneer that teachers support the proposed restrictions but want clear communication from districts and schools about what the new rules will look like . . . and consequences for students who refuse to comply.

“We don’t want it to fall on teachers to enforce this,” he said.

Murray said teachers would also like to see investment in technology that would make personal devices unnecessary in digital skills classes.

The supporting guide used by the district describes accommodations that meet medical and health needs. For example, using a digital device to monitor blood/sugar levels in a student with diabetes or considering language impairments.

A recent academic paper reviewed by the board concluded that removing cell phones from classrooms will likely reduce students’ temptation to play games, surf the Internet and text friends, thereby increasing their ability to focus on their studies.