Big (and important) news! Read all about it!

At the start of the 2024–25 school year Saskatchewan introduced new rules restricting cell-phone use during class time across K–12 schools.

Quick sketch of the policy

The Saskatchewan Government’s website released this news on August 6, 2024.

TL;DR? Saskatchewan’s measure asked that cell phones be silenced and kept out of sight during instructional time, with exceptions for medical or special-needs accommodations and for teacher-directed instruction. School divisions are expected to draft local enforcement procedures and parent-contact plans. The provincial announcement framed the move as an attempt to reduce distraction and help students “reach their potential.”

Sigh! Easier said than done, right?

But I’ve seen this episode and still loved the show

I only recently learned about this policy. Since I’ve only been in Canada since April 2024 and haven’t taught in a public school here yet, this was news to me. But this kind of ban rang very familiar…

At my school in Mumbai, we had a very similar policy. Students were required to hand in their phones each morning, and we’d return them in the afternoon before dismissal. The reasoning was simple: phones were a huge distraction during class. But we also recognized that students did need them for safety. Mumbai is a big and densely populated city where public transportation gets really crowded. Students absolutely need phones to contact parents or arrange transportation home. And god forbid, if there’s an emergency…

This balance worked surprisingly well. No buzzing phones mid-lesson, but no panicked parents either. We had optional after-school doubt sessions (our version of study hall) — hour-long spaces where students could stay back to clarify concepts, work on assignments, or just dive deeper into a topic. During those sessions, phones often came in handy. Students would quickly Google a tricky question, cross-check something they’d read in class, or even pull up past papers. Phones weren’t banned completely; they were treated as tools, used intentionally in specific contexts.

What’s going on elsewhere in Canada?

Saskatchewan followed the lead of all other provinces across Canada (except Newfoundland and Labrador) that already have some version of this ban, so clearly it’s a growing trend. Here are some highlights from other provinces:

1. Ontario

Ontario has a policy from 2019 that limits use of phones in classrooms. In April 2024, Ontario strengthened the policy by enacting more specific guidelines, but in practice, the rule is “out of sight and out of mind” for many grades and allows teacher discretion. Critics have noted inconsistent enforcement leading to inconsistent results. Students say the ban makes a difference early on, but it sometimes fades in effect over time.

2. Alberta

Alberta has also introduced standards (starting Fall 2024) to limit personal mobile device use during instruction, and restrict social media access on school networks. These policies come with input from parents, students, and teachers. However, their results are yet again (you guessed it right!) mixed: good for some, but stressful for others. Man! these kids are really obsessed.

Here’s an article summarizing policy province-wise. Here’s one that talks about the whirlwind effects of these bans in several provinces last Fall. Here’s another one that talks about the effects after a full year of implementation and describes them as mostly positive, but still mixed.

Also, polls show that a large majority of Canadians support bans: one national survey by The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University found nearly 80% of Canadians back a K-12 cell phone ban in classrooms, with the strongest support in Québec.

Wow, who knew something about schools could be that popular. But I guess I should have known; Canada has the highest proportion of tertiary educated adults.

Across the pond and elsewhere on the Globe

Some studies show academic performance increases: in England, when phones were banned, test scores for age-16 students increased by about 0.064 standard deviations (meaningful gains). Notably, lower-achieving students benefited from twice these gains, while there were no gains for high-achieving students.

However, simply having a ban doesn’t solve deeper issues related to device addiction, mental health, or distraction outside of school. A UK study (University of Birmingham) found that while phone bans at school reduced in-class distractions, they didn’t necessarily improve overall wellbeing or grades if no other supports or changes were made.

Singapore and Norway have been able to maintain or improve academic performance. South of the border, U.S. states are experimenting with similar policies. This article tells more!

The results? Mixed. Some schools report better classroom behavior and even small bumps in achievement. Others find students just “switch off” at school but binge their phones even more at home. Without digital literacy education, bans may just delay the inevitable.

But now let’s get to the point!

What about Saskatchewan?

When I think about Saskatchewan’s policy, I find myself reflecting on the benefits and drawbacks from different perspectives :

👩‍🏫Teachers

Most teachers seem relieved. Less time policing phones, fewer off-task interruptions, and a classroom that’s easier to manage. In other words, less TikTok under the desk, more actual focus.

But… some teachers also point out that phones can be useful for quick research or interactive activities. The challenge is finding that balance between “ban” and “purposeful use.” There’s also enforcement fatigue if admin support is weak.

🏫 Administrators

Principals and school leaders often like blanket policies because they make enforcement simpler. Instead of every teacher setting their own rules (and students negotiating or pushing boundaries), a province-wide ban provides clarity. It means fewer classroom-by-classroom battles. But administrators also face challenges: they must plan for logistics (storage solutions), deal with exceptions, and navigate inevitable conflicts with parents who expect their children to be reachable. It’s a win in terms of clarity, but a lot of responsibility lands on their desks.

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents

Parents are divided. Some cheer for fewer distractions. Kids survived just fine before smartphones! Others worry: What if my kid needs me? What if there’s an emergency?

In India, our “return at dismissal” system solved this problem—students were reachable when they really needed to be. Saskatchewan schools may need similar parent-contact systems so families feel reassured. Middle-ground strategies!

🧑🏽‍🎓Students

Honestly? Mixed feelings. Some students admit phones are addictive and bans help them stay focused. Others feel like schools are ignoring how integral phones are to modern life—music (to focus while studying), homework apps, research, even managing mental health. Removing phones entirely can limit legitimate learning uses. It can feel like an overreach when phones can support learning if used intentionally.

Reddit reaction — real voices matter

I looked through reddit for reactions (teachers, parents, students) and found a lot of the same views: relief from teachers, mixed feelings from students, and concern from parents.

🗣️ “If parents saw how phones are actually used in class, they’d support the ban in an instant.” — Saskatchewan teacher on Reddit

🗣️ “It’s not about punishing kids. It’s about giving them a break from the constant dopamine hit of notifications.” — Reddit commenter, parent

🗣️ “I just want a reliable way to contact my kids in an emergency.” — Reddit commenter, parent

🗣️ “Honestly, I get why they did it, but sometimes I just want to check my homework app or text my mom about rides. Feels like we’re being punished for the few who abuse it.” — Reddit commenter, student

Those voices matter — policy is lived in classrooms, and those lived experiences should guide tweaks and exceptions.

My two cents

Phones aren’t evil, but they are powerful. And power in the wrong hands can be destructive. From my experience, outright bans don’t always teach responsibility. Intentional use does. Saskatchewan’s rules feel like a reset button: clearing the noise so that schools, teachers, and students can reimagine how phones should fit into learning. If the policy is paired with supports, exceptions, and student voice, “phones out of sight” can actually become “minds back in class.”

In the end, phones are like fire: a tool that can warm or burn, depending on how we teach young people to use it. Maybe this ban is the spark we need to move from “phones as distractions” to “phones with purpose.”

Living my “Phones Down, Thoughts Up” era ✨
Dishant