Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
National

Rollout of Alberta's school cellphone ban raising concerns among teachers

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Aug, 2024 10:44 AM
  • Rollout of Alberta's school cellphone ban raising concerns among teachers

The head of the Alberta Teachers' Association says the rollout of new policies banning cellphone use in classrooms starting this fall has some teachers confused about how they'll be expected to follow them.

President Jason Schilling said about two weeks before most kindergarten to Grade 12 students go back to class, it's unclear why new provincial standards will be in place for Sept. 1, while school divisions have until Jan. 1 to put their own policies and procedures on the books.

"I find the discrepancy between the two dates bizarre," he told The Canadian Press.

Alberta has previously allowed school boards to decide whether or not to restrict cellphones, but Schilling said for those teachers in schools who don't yet have such rules, there's concern.

"When I talk to my colleagues about this, they are (going to be) confiscating phones that are very expensive, and they've got some hesitations about doing that without any kind of proper policies or rules and procedures put in place before they start doing this," he said.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced in June that personal devices will need to be turned off and stored out of sight during class time, with exceptions for specialized learning or medical needs. 

In a statement to The Canadian Press, Nicolaides said while the ban takes effect in the fall, he's leaving it up to local school authorities to finalize their own policies by the new year.

Those include rules on how cellphones will need to be stored, "roles and responsibilities, consequences, and annual notification that are reflective of the province's expectations."

Schilling said it's important students and parents understand what happens when the rules are violated.

The province's move to crack down on cellphones in schools followed the announcement of similar restrictions in Quebec, Ontario and B.C. 

Saskatchewan and Manitoba have since followed suit.

Schilling said the Alberta Teachers' Association supports restricting smartphones during instructional time, but not the timeline. 

Instead, the government could call for all the rules to be in place on Jan. 1 so that there's clarity, he said.

Meanwhile, some Alberta school divisions say they're ready to have the new ban in place as soon as school starts.

Joanne Anderson, spokesperson for the Calgary Board of Education, said it will take effect on the first day of classes, Aug. 29.

"More information will be provided to staff and families next week in advance of the first day of classes," said Anderson, noting that "administrative regulation" will be finalized before the Jan. 1 deadline.

Veronica Jubinville, spokesperson at the Edmonton Public School Board, said many schools in the division already have cellphone rules, so the government's requirements will either reinforce those or set new standards for the beginning of the school year. 

"The division feels prepared for the start of the 2024-25 school year," she wrote in a statement.

Jubinville said the Jan. 1 deadline gives schools time to put in rules that go beyond the government's orders, if they want.

Superintendent Dave Driscoll at the Palliser School Division, which covers schools in southern Alberta, said in a statement the new direction will be a "significant change," but procedures will be in effect for the beginning of this school year. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Homicide in Maple Ridge

Homicide in Maple Ridge
The R-C-M-P are investigating a 58-year-old women's death as a homicide after responding to reports of an injured woman in Maple Ridge over the weekend. Mounties say they responded to the report on Sunday afternoon and located a woman suffering from serious injuries who was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Homicide in Maple Ridge

BC Auditor General retiring in Fall

BC Auditor General retiring in Fall
B-C Auditor General Michael A. Pickup is retiring in November after four years in the role. He made the announcement today and thanked everyone who has supported and worked with him during his time in the province.

BC Auditor General retiring in Fall

Adventure-seeking B.C. couple were victims found on Nova Scotia island: relative

Adventure-seeking B.C. couple were victims found on Nova Scotia island: relative
The British Columbia couple whose remains recently washed ashore on Nova Scotia's remote Sable Island have been identified as 70-year-old James Brett Clibbery and his 54-year-old wife, Sarah Packwood. Clibbery’s sister, Lynda Spielman, said Tuesday the RCMP had confirmed their identities.

Adventure-seeking B.C. couple were victims found on Nova Scotia island: relative

Fire numbers fall in B.C. as blaze near Golden destroys homes, spurs evacuation

Fire numbers fall in B.C. as blaze near Golden destroys homes, spurs evacuation
The Town of Golden confirmed Thursday that the fire burning south of the community had destroyed "several structures," but it did not provide specifics. It said in a social media post that the 1.33-square-kilometre blaze, known as the Dogtooth Forest Service Road fire, had spread north, but rain and a northern wind are expected to help the fire fight.

Fire numbers fall in B.C. as blaze near Golden destroys homes, spurs evacuation

B.C. lets wineries import grapes for 2024 vintages after 'devastating' winter losses

B.C. lets wineries import grapes for 2024 vintages after 'devastating' winter losses
The B.C. government says wineries can import grapes and juice to make their 2024 vintages after "devastating" losses this winter.  The province says allowing winemakers to import grapes from outside B.C. is a "temporary measure" to prop-up hundreds of wineries and thousands of jobs after freezing weather wiped out this year's harvest. 

B.C. lets wineries import grapes for 2024 vintages after 'devastating' winter losses

90% of B.C. communities adopt province's plans for more small-scale housing

90% of B.C. communities adopt province's plans for more small-scale housing
Almost all British Columbia communities have adopted the provincial government's plan to tackle the housing crisis by allowing more multi-unit homes on properties. The province says nearly 90 per cent of 188 local governments have followed the legislation that would allow for row homes, triplexes and townhouses on former single-home lots. 

90% of B.C. communities adopt province's plans for more small-scale housing