Cellphone Use Banned In All Toronto Public Schools
Posted April 19, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A new message went out to public school students all across Toronto Thursday – you can bring it, just don’t ring it.
The caveat concerned cell phones, as a new era dawned in the city’s educational institutions. It was the first day of a ban on cell phones in schools run by the Toronto Board.
Trustee Josh Matlow got the motion overwhelmingly approved at a late meeting Wednesday night, and it went into effect immediately, giving few students much time to react.
But once the shock ended, the anger moved in.
Many were clearly infuriated with the new policy, which allows them to bring the handsets, but not use them anywhere inside or outside on school grounds.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” complains one.
“I think it’s pretty stupid,” adds another.
And a third made it very clear where he stood on the matter. “When I don’t have it, I feel like I’m missing something. It’s like I’m not wearing my pants.”
Some schools had already banned the devices, but this is the first time the prohibition is citywide.
Proponents say there are lots of good reasons for the move.
There’s the disruptive nature of the phone ringing or vibrating during class.
Students can text message each other and send answers about exams, a high tech way to cheat.
They can also access the Internet over the phones, making it too easy to surf or find answers they’re supposed to know while class is in session.
Phones can also act as MP3 players, another interruption.
And the built-in camera capabilities in them have been used by some students to post embarrassing and harassing videos to sites like YouTube.
Teachers are enthused.
“Sometimes students don’t use it productively,” claims English instructor Litsa Tsouluhas. “I think there’s benefits of it (but) I don’t think they should be allowed in the classroom.”
“Cell phones are disruptive and quite frankly they get in the way of learning in the classroom,” Matlow agrees. “Kids quite often will be sending text messages at the back of class. It’s sort of the modern way to pass notes these days.
“The bells, the buzzing, the whistles, that isn’t the place for that kind of tool.”
And he notes that schools aren’t exactly a democracy. “Some kids think this is a given right, that they can use a cell phone anywhere they wish.”
But many students see them as a necessity.
“I need my cell phone to contact my parents whenever there’s a time of need,” argues Grade 11 student Jaselle Ricketts.
But the rules say cell phones can be used in an emergency and parents who need to contact their kids can do it the old fashioned way – by calling the office.
Still, not every student is worried. Some think the ban is simply unenforceable.
“It’s not going to happen,” laughs one teen. “Even if it’s banned people are still going to find a way to do it.”
What happens if they do?
“That’s something that the principal’s going to have to deal with,” responds Matlow, avoiding the question of punishment for repeated infractions.
Toronto isn’t the first school board to impose such a ban – the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board has also barred mobile phone use on school property and during extra-curricular activities, like after-class sports and field trips.
But if Toronto students are upset now, they’d better steel themselves for what may be next.
The board will meet again next October, when they’ll consider banning other electronic devices – including iPods.
Your Responses To The Cell Phone Ban
Other School Cell Phone Bans
New York City has had prohibitions against a plethora of portable communication devices in place since the 1980s and recently added handsets and iPods to the list. Their cell phone ban prompted a lawsuit from some worried parents.
Detroit bans cell phones in its schools and if you’re caught violating the policy more than two times, you won’t get your phone back.
Kids can make calls from school in Los Angeles, but only when they’re on a break or at lunch.
And riots broke out in some Milwaukee schools in January when officials initiated an all-out ban on the portable talkers.
But other places opt for a case-by-case basis.
One school in Ottawa has banned them altogether. Others haven’t.
Many English language education institutions in Montreal have put the kibosh on the portables, but it’s not a city-wide policy.
