Quebec school cellphone ban has had positive impact, students and administrators say

Quebec's expanded school cellphone ban is getting top marks from some students and administrators who say the measure has improved students' concentration and social interactions.

Quebec’s expanded school cellphone ban is getting top marks from some students and administrators who say the measure has improved students’ concentration and social interactions.

On a recent day just before the holiday break, students at École Monseigneur-A.-M.-Parent high school on Montreal’s South Shore flooded into the hallways at the sound of the lunch bell, as the student radio station played Christmas songs.

Amid the hubbub, some students sat down to play cards, while others played Ping-Pong or board games.

“Before, people were on their phones a lot and playing games, but since they can’t do that anymore, now they play together or talk to each other,” Grade 11 student Constance Boie told The Canadian Press.

Sitting next to her, Shelby Miclette said she is “quite introverted” and that the ban on phones at school has encouraged her to connect with her peers. “I’m more open to others than I used to be,” she said. “It’s brought me out of my shell a little.”

Cellphones have been banned since January 2024 during classroom time across Quebec, with a few exceptions. In the fall, the government widened its ban to prohibit students from using the devices on elementary or high school property for the entire school day, including during breaks and in hallways.

Mélanie Lacourse, the principal of École Monseigneur-A.-M.-Parent, said she’s seen a positive impact on students’ social lives, physical activity levels, and academic success. “It’s a friendlier atmosphere and sometimes, yes, noisier, because they’re talking to each other, but it’s great to see,” said Lacourse, adding that she has noticed “a decrease in isolation.”

She’s also convinced that students who spend their breaks on activities such as foosball, exercise or quality time with friends are better able to settle down to learn in class.