High school students in the Tri-Cities will have a new reality when they start learning next week.
Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 3 — on the first day back — students in grades 9 to 12 in School District 43 (SD43) can’t have their cellphones on during class time, unless permitted.
The move by SD43’s board of education to update the District Code of Conduct for Students was made in June and follows the new direction by Premier David Eby for B.C. schools, as well as similar movements in Ontario and Quebec to limit teens’ cellphone use in schools.
SD43 assistant superintendent Stephen Whiffin told the Tri-City News on Monday, Aug. 26, that elementary and middle school students in the Tri-Cities are already use to the cellphone restriction as they are not allowed to use their mobile devices while school is in session.
But, for secondary students who were permitted in the past to use their cellphones during class time, there will be some adjustments over the next year, Whiffin expects.
“We’re going to hear from a lot of students about how the experiences goes for them,” he said.
“We want to give them a voice. We will be paying attention to see how the strategy is working.”
Here’s what the Code of Conduct now reads about standards for technology use:
- Access to personal digital devices, such as cellphones and tablets, is expected to be restricted throughout the school day in grades K–9 and during instructional times in grades 9–12.
Whiffin said there will be some exceptions for cellphone/tablet use:
- if the student uses the device as a primary learning tool
- if the student needs the device for medical, accessibility or equity reasons
- if the cellphone/tablet is needed for a specific instructional activity
And every SD43 school will be allowed to tailor their cellphone policy to fit with their unique system, he said.
For example, some elementary and middle schools are now providing cubbies or “Phone Hotels” that hang on the wall while other schools simply ask students to store their devices in their bag or locker during class time.
“It really depends on the context of the school itself,” Whiffin said.
But while the policy is undefined in each learning community, the expectation is clear, he said: Cellphones are off when classes are on.
Social media/game distractions
No penalties for in-classroom cellphone use are laid out in the revised policy; however, serious breaches of the Code of Conduct that threaten the safety and welfare of others may be referred directly to Level 3 of the district’s suspension process.
And students who are 16 years old and older can be expelled.
Whiffin said the cellphone dangers for the district that could potentially put others at harm can happen when there is an emergency at a school and students are relaying inaccurate information online.
“If they are posting on social media about what they think is happening, it could be harmful for the situation and for the people responding to it,” he said.
“Not posting about what they think is going on actually helps us achieve the goal of reducing speculative communication.”
Should there be a school emergency or lockdown while classes are in session, parents are advised to wait for the text message/email alert from the principal or district or to visit the SD43 website.
As for when high school students can turn their cellphones back on at school, Whiffin recommends at lunch or after school.
“What we’re tying to do is reduce social media and game-related distractions during class time […] We will get feedback over time for what makes sense about including other types of devices, or what new behaviours emerge as a result of the new expectations.”
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