The debate over cell phone use in Saskatchewan’s classrooms has been heating up for some time now, and it went to new level especially due to the new provincial measures that was implemented the start of this 2024-25 school year.
This policy aims to reduce distractions and improve student engagement, but opinions are divided among teachers, parents, and students. It is now January 2025 and let’s look back and see if the new policy has made any impact as it was intended to do.
Pros of Allowing Cell Phones in Classrooms
Parents would say that one of the main advantages for allowing cell phones in classrooms is for them to reach their children in case of emergencies, and students can use their phones to coordinate transportation or other logistics. For the record let’s agree to remove this from the list of Pros. If it is an emergency, you don’t want a student to take a call in a classroom setting. It is better for an adult to go to the classroom and remove the student tactfully to keep their situation private. The student then has an adult ready to support them if it is truly and emergency.
As an Ed Tech Facilitator I have found that cell phones can be valuable educational tools. They provide instant access to information, enabling students to conduct research and verify facts quickly. I had EAL Students in the past use their device to help with translation. One example a teacher would present their lesson using a PowerPoint format in Microsoft 365. The teacher was then able to activate the “Present Live” option. When the PowerPoint would be presented it would give a QR CODE on the screen. The EAL Students would simply have to scan the QR Code and set their preferred language. That way while the teacher was speaking during the lesson, their voice would be transcribed into that student first language. Now that we have no cell phone. We must try to access other tools such as iPads. The result is that we don’t have enough hardware to meet the demand.
Cons of Allowing Cell Phones in Classrooms
On the flip side, cell phones can be significant distractions. Many teachers report that students often use their phones for non-educational purposes, such as texting friends or browsing social media, which disrupts the learning environment. As a parent I have a son that would use the cellphone in the classroom when he was in high school and for me, I think it was a distraction. So as a teacher and parent I don’t think it is always a good thing to have in the classroom. Students can’t be given a digital tool and be expected to use it appropriately. It is essential that we teach them prior to the use of the device such as a cell phone.
I was a counsellor in a High School for a lot of years. I remember students that would get hundreds of texts and notifications prior to the school day. I don’t know how that can be done but I saw this with my own eyes. What I saw in those situations were students that would come to school not ready to learn because of the constant barrage of notifications and texts that they were receiving. So, if you want to make an argument about cell phone in schools that is easily made. However, a believe firmly that a discussion regarding cell phone outside of educational environments should equally be made. The developmental implications on children and youth are profound due to digital connectivity.
What Do Teachers, Parents, and Students Think?
Teachers generally find cell phones to be a distraction in the classroom. A survey revealed that 76.19% of teachers believe cell phones hinder the learning process. As I mentioned above, some educators see potential in using smartphones as educational tools if proper guidelines and support are provided
Parents are more divided. While many appreciate the safety and communication benefits, they also recognize the potential for distraction and misuse. I am going out on a limb here, but I would say that parents are so busy that they want the teacher’s simply to deal with the cell phone issue at school. Students, on the other hand, often feel that having their phones is essential for staying connected and managing their daily lives. In our discussion last week, it was discussed how different generations have different perspectives on how technology should be used. For example, the graduate students surveyed had different response they leaned towards more productivity software vs undergraduate students. The undergrads saw technology more of a connectivity issue.
Balancing Technology and Education
The challenge lies in finding a balance between leveraging technology for educational purposes and minimizing its potential drawbacks. Some experts suggest that instead of outright bans, schools should develop policies that allow controlled use of cell phones for specific instructional purposes. This approach could help maintain classroom focus while still providing the benefits of modern technology. I think we need to keep in mind the “End Game” pertaining to cell phone use. Eventually, all students will be independent and if we don’t teach them proper use now what will happen if we don’t do anything.
Conclusion
The cell phone debate in Saskatchewan’s schools is far from settled. While the new provincial measures aim to create a more focused learning environment, the opinions of teachers, parents, and students highlight the complexity of the issue. As technology continues to evolve, so too must our approaches to integrating it into education. Finding the right balance will be key to ensuring that students can benefit from the advantages of cell phones without being overwhelmed by their potential distractions.
I think you may be on to something there when you say that parents just want teachers to deal with it at school. Meanwhile teachers hope that parents will deal with it at home. Its a non-stop pendulum that is always swinging back and forth between “whose job it it?” In my humble opinion, I feel that as teachers we are not their parents/caregivers and its very hard to break those ideologies that students come to school with regarding what they are allowed to do at home etc. BUT When it comes to cell phones in school and anything in school where there is an issue, I think it’s important to try and teach students about respect. Respect for themselves, for their teachers, and others around them and respect for their environment. If students had more respect in general these issues would not be as big of issues as they are. BUT that too is another big can of worms!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! You make an excellent point about the ongoing challenge of balancing responsibilities between parents and teachers. It’s true that fostering respect in students is crucial and can significantly impact their behavior and interactions. Teaching respect for themselves, their teachers, and their environment is indeed a fundamental step towards addressing many issues. Your perspective highlights the importance of collaboration and mutual understanding in creating a positive learning environment.