Alberta's school cell phone ban has been in place for one month. Here's how families and staff think it's going
CTV
CTV News Edmonton spoke with two families, as well as Edmonton's public and Catholic school divisions, about the first month of school with Alberta's school cellphone ban.
It has been one full month that Alberta schools have been operating with a mandate from the provincial government to restrict students' cell phone usage.
The provincial standard, a ministerial order from the education minister that took effect Sept. 1, prohibits students from using personal mobile devices during instructional time and social media apps while on school networks and devices. Quebec, Ontario, B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba have taken similar steps.
CTV News Edmonton spoke with two families, as well as Edmonton's public and Catholic school divisions, about the change. They were mostly hopeful, if a little unconfident, about the long-term effects of the province's school cell phone ban.
"I've noticed that there's a lot less phone usage in class this year," Grade 11 Strathcona High School student Aurora Hartlen told CTV News Edmonton at the end of September.
She believes the majority of students understand and are willing to comply with the rule – although there's definitely rulebreakers – but is frustrated that the provincial standard encapsulates devices like laptops and tablets, which can be used for learning. She saved up to buy her own laptop for high school.
"We're relying on school Chromebooks, which are very slow and just not as nice," Aurora said.
Both she and her sister, Brynn, a Grade 8 student at McKernan School, feel teachers are more strictly enforcing device policies this year.
