At Banting Memorial High School in Alliston, if a student runs afoul of the new provincial cellphone ban, their phone is kept in a brown paper bag that's stapled shut until the end of the period.
This is one of many ways the new provincial cell phone rules are being enforced in schools across Simcoe County. Unions representing both elementary and secondary teachers at both the Simcoe County public and Catholic schools tend to agree that the province’s cell phone ban – for the most part – is working smoothly.
However some Simcoe County teacher unions say the discipline measures for students caught using their phones still vary from school to school and can make enforcement difficult.
One union calls the ban a “distraction” from chronic underfunding of education by the province.
“This was a convenient way for the Premier and Ministry of Education to say that they’re doing something about distractions in the classroom...but an easier and better way to do that would be to address some of the bigger concerns like lack of funding, the violence in our system or additional mental-health supports,” said Jen Hare, Simcoe County OSSTF (Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation) bargaining unit president representing public high school teachers.
“Removing phones was a bit of a Band-Aid solution.”
In April, then-education minister Stephen Lecce first announced new cellphone rules for the 2024 fall semester to “help reduce distractions in our schools,” to help students focus during instructional time. The new rules, which were then passed on to school boards through a memo at the end of June, is impacting all of Ontario’s 4,500 public schools.
According to the new rules, students are not to use personal mobile devices during instructional time, except for health/medical purposes, to support special education needs or for educational purposes as outlined by an educator. Students in kindergarten to Grade 6 must keep phones stored out of view and turned off/on silent throughout the school day, while students in grades 7 to 12 must do the same but only during instructional time.
According to the Simcoe County public board’s rules, progressive discipline will be implemented if students run afoul of the rules, but what that progressive discipline means can vary from school to school, depending on the administration.
“In theory, it makes sense. Our alternative education space – Simcoe Shores Secondary School – shouldn’t have the same policy as Collingwood Collegiate Institute,” explained Hare. “But, that has led to inconsistencies. We’ve been working with the Simcoe County District School Board to make sure policies are consistent across schools.”
Hare points to creative ways schools within the public board are working to enforce the ban, including the method being used at Banting.
“It seems silly, but I’ve heard from staff that it’s been the best deterrent,” she said.
“There always has been a bit of push-back when a teacher asks a student to put their phone away. There has always been a bit of a power struggle,” said Hare. “But, I have not heard of specific incidences of escalation more than we’ve had in the past.”
Hare also noted that while cell phones do distract from student learning, there are a lot of other things also distracting from learning that aren’t being addressed.
Donnie Mills, president of the Simcoe County Elementary Teachers’ Federation echoed Hare’s statements, saying that while cell phones and the use of them in classrooms is “absolutely” a problem, there are bigger issues at play.
“I think it’s important to understand what this cell phone ban actually is. It’s a distraction from this government from the real problem,” said Mills.
Overall, Mills said he’s not hearing issues from his members regarding the ban and enforcement of it. He said that in the grand scheme of things, previous to the ban, cell phones were an annoyance more than anything.
“They’re addictive devices that have been designed to lead to addicting behaviour,” he said, referencing the lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards – including the Simcoe County District School Board – against the owners of Facebook/Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok for more than $4 billion for damage done to students.
“It’s definitely a problem, but it is not THE problem. The problem in schools is chronic underfunding by this government,” said Mills.
He said the issue of underfunding has trickled down to impact various parts of the education system, including large class sizes, rising violence in schools and insufficient special education supports.
“Students are struggling. When students struggle in school – when they aren’t understanding concepts, or when they haven’t had breakfast or any number of reasons – students will often make choices that aren’t really their choices to make. They’re reacting to a situation that’s beyond their control,” explained Mills. “It leads to behaviour issues and violence in schools. All of those things are exacerbated by cell phones, but banning cell phones without a concrete mechanism to enforce that ban, is a false flag.”
Kent MacDonald, president of the Simcoe Muskoka branch of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) representing elementary teachers, said cell phones aren’t as big of an issue at the elementary level, but the use of them is creeping down to younger students every year.
“The distraction is there. Our board always had a plan, and it was more robust than the government’s plan,” said MacDonald. “With the government coming out and media attention, it’s provided that (feeling) that we’re being backed up.”
MacDonald said the provincial decision helps get families on board with the rules which, in many cases, can be just as important as getting students on board.
“At least we can say now, this is not a classroom or school rule. It’s a provincial rule, so it carries a little more weight. I think it’s helpful,” he said.
Allyn Janicki, president of the Simcoe Muskoka branch of OECTA representing secondary teachers said that while there was some apprehension early on concerning whether or not students and families would buy into the new policy, so far it has been unfounded and has been aided by the Catholic board taking a uniform approach.
“Anecdotally, for the most part, it seems to be OK right now,” said Janicki. “I have had very little interaction with that concern on behalf of my members since September.”
However, Janicki agrees that the concerns expressed by teachers on a regular basis – such as a lack of funding from the province, class sizes and violence experienced in the school environment – are more urgent in the minds of her members as well.
The Simcoe County District School Board’s mobile device policy can be found here. The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board’s student code of conduct, which includes rules around the use of mobile devices, can be found here.
