Discussions

Does this ban i:nclude teachers to.

Your query is not only irrational, but points to a lack of understanding to the point of banning phones in the first place.  
 
If you take the time to read the statement posted by the Province of Manitoba you will immediately find that the ban is for students only, but there will be some direction on cell phone usage by school staff.  
 
Secondly, when interviewed, Wab Kinew stated that this was a tool that teachers could use in order to enforce their own cell phone ban where one does not exist already in schools, because we already know that some teachers have banned phones in their classrooms, this just provides those teachers with support.  
 
Here is what the province has said about the ban:  
 
“We want young people to be able to focus in class so they can learn more and feel confident. We know cellphones can be a real distraction for students – studies show it can take up to 20 minutes for a child to refocus on what they were learning once distracted,” Altomare said. “These provincial guidelines will give teachers the tools they need to keep students focused and ensure class time is spent on learning. Plus, we will take safety and medical concerns into account so all risks are minimized.”  
 
But, before you draw any conclusions and begin questioning the enforcement of such a ban, remember that the policy has yet to be written, usage by school staff is mentioned as part of those future policies, read more below:  
 
"Schools and school divisions will implement updated policies as students head back to school in September to ensure consistency across the province, which i:nclude:  
 
banning cellphone use during school hours, including lunch and breaks, for students in kindergarten to Grade 8:  
 
banning cellphone use for students in grades 9 to 12 during class time, with cellphone use permitted during breaks and lunch: and  
 
clear direction for cellphone use in classrooms for school staff.  
 
Guidelines will i:nclude exceptions to support students with medical and diverse learning needs, as well as cellphone use for educational purposes in grades 9 to 12 when directed by classroom teachers."  
 
Manitoba wasn't the first province to impose a ban on cell phone use in schools, Alberta and Saskatchewan already have put similar bans in place for their schools.  
 
Edited by PrimeConvoy, 2024-08-28 11:18:05

The intent behind your question, I'd have to say that the answer is most likely obvious. Employers everywhere, especially in public government positions, have rules about restricted or "no cell phone usage" by employees during work hours. In fact, it's literally written into union contracts, so I'm assuming the teachers union would be no different. Undoubtedly, there will be the occasion where teachers, and students may circumvent those rules, but hey, that's just human nature, and people will be held accountable accordingly. The cell phone ban at its core purpose, is meant to help students develop and focus. Children and tenagers don't have a fully developed frontal cortex, and input influences such as phones and their global interactions/distractions can have a negative affect on development and focus. I know people will argue against this for the sake of arguing, but it's just true fact regardless of belief, so this ban needs to happen to ensure that developmental reasoning and responsibility is still prioritized. Since teachers are adults with fully developed brains and thought patterns, they aren't the focus of the ruling (again, shouldn't make them exempt from disciplinary measure if they use a phone during work hours though).  
 
Edited by Mr Eman, 2024-08-28 12:30:19

Teachers using cellphones in classrooms. A bad example for the kids.  
 
Not against the ban. Just hope there is someone all day there to answer a school phone for parents when they call as they can’t call their child.

what about all the other technology? easily hidden and accessible .. it’s all really a bunch of drama..

Years ago before cell phone technology. Kids were fine back then without up to the minute updates on dinner plans, they will survive now. In the case of emergency, parents can call the front office and relay a message to the office staff to pass on. It's always been an option to do that.  
 
Edited by Mr Eman, 2024-09-02 15:14:36

Teachers are not students.  
There is a big difference.  
They are in charge of classroom and students.  
 
My Boss has no cell phones at work for employees. On your break or lunch yes but not while working.  
 
However the Boss uses the cell phone , not for X or FB updates for work, no different for teachers.  
 
And no I am not a teacher.

The teacher should have theirs in the room. Should they be on it while teaching? No, but should they need it in an emergency then the room has a phone. To me this is very logical. High school kids should be able to check between classes but not be on during class time unless it’s for research required by the particular class.

Why on earth do the parents need to call their kids? If their is an emergency, call the office staff. How did the kids 20-30 years ago ever survive! Good Lord!!  
No wonder the kids are messed up: leave them alone and let them learn. That's what they are at school for.

I'm a big believer in not having cell phones in the classroom unless its explicitly used for a lesson.  
 
That said, I often text my teenager to confirm plans, if they need a pickup, etc. It's not like the "olden days", and because of bussing and school policy, my kids rely on me for transport (Three of my kids don't qualify for bussing, as we don't attend our catchment school - our choice, so I'm not complaining - one would have to get on the school bus at ridiculous times to get to and from school, and one is bussed but like, I'm driving the rest already).  
 
I wish sometimes the oldest of my younger kids (who all attend the same school) had a cell phone so I could text them information like I'm running late. Something they could see at the end of the day.  
 
I've tried calling the school office to pass on messages, but they usually don't make it. I used to be able to leave home with a quarter in my pocket, assured that I could contact my parents at any payphone. My high school had payphones when I went there 20 years ago lol. But the world assumes everyone has a cell phone.

Parents can reach their children the old fashioned way.....through the office. Maybe now the focus can be off social and back on education. Bring back math skills and literacy please.

This isn't a society issue, or a school issue, this is clearly a parent issue.  
 
I have 2 daughters that just finished high school and never did I ever need to text my kids while I was at work and they were in school, and my youngest had a job at McDonalds and played sports while she attended school, and she was able to manage leaving her phone aside and still live a normal life, perform well at sports and excel academically. The problem comes in when we think we need to text immediately to say we will be 10 minutes late. Being late doesn't qualify as an emergency, as much as you think it does, it doesn't require updating your child and keep them up-to-the-minute.  
 
What is missing from the equation is the need for a child to be in an environment that fosters creativity and curiosity, and having a parent constantly updating them on their status is a disruption to their learning, and fosters a mindset of relying on those so-called "useful" updates.  
 
Edited by PrimeConvoy, 2024-09-04 14:21:53

Well said! My sentiments exactly. I worked in a school office and not once did a child not get a message. No wonder kids can't figure things out for themselves. Their parents are way too in their face!

"Good morning Sergeant Major......What are you the $%^# weatherman". Doesn't matter is something nice is said or some policy that is for the betterment of all, someone will find fault or negativity about it.  
 
This new policy is Canada wide and in most States in the USA. Get over it and find a better way to communicate. We seen to forget that this is about the kids that don't know how to communicate unless it's in a text message. It's about kids that don't want to go outside for recess because they need to get to level 1000 in Candy Crush.  
 
This new policy is a good thing. Again, get over it, accept it, and work with it.

Teachers need our phones to access different technology in the school- ie two factor authentication

Well said!

I'm sincerely glad that worked for you. What works for your family doesn't universally work for everyone.  
 
Several of my children are not neurotypical, one has disabilities, and so what works for neurotypical children doesn't always work for us. Being 10 minutes late can actually be an emergency for them. I frequently get calls, texts, and emails from staff about several of my kids because of official behaviour management plans issued by the school and agreed to by me. If everything has to route through the office, that is even more disruptive than the teacher shooting me a quick text. I have children under the care of medical doctors and mental health specialists. It's not a parenting issue - it's a medical one. Communication is extremely important and I'm concerned about how this is a blanket rule.  
 
The rules are also being applied to teachers, and that i:ncludes the teachers in Life Skills. These are kiddos that, on the most part, need one-on-one supervision and/or are medically fragile. The teachers have informed us due to policy, they can no longer carry their cell phones. That means it can be harder to get updates, convey information back and forth, even call for help if required. That is unacceptable. You can say, "oh, well it wasn't like that and we managed just fine" but kids like this were institutionalized until not that long ago. There's a phone right in the classroom with a direct line, but it's often no answer because either no one is around (they are elsewhere in the building), no one is available (because they are with the students) or they simply don't hear the phone because there's so much noise.  
 
Like I said before, I'm a big believer in keeping them out of the classroom except where necessary. I think limits are good - my children have limits at home too. We have a house full of Lego and board games and books and building/crafting materials and dressup clothes and musical instruments and a big backyard. But blanket rules are often not the solution, especially because society has changed so that there is the expectation of everyone having phones and our infrastructure has adjusted accordingly.  
 
It's very frustrating when we say we want one thing, but the environment clearly isn't reflecting that value.

I agree with primeconvoy, this is a parent issue, which has also translated into wider issues with the systems that supposed to be in place for children with extra support needs.  
The life skills suite and EAs within schools are there to provide the supports these children need. An office phone or a phone close by in the life skills suite is more than enough to communicate with parents if needed. This is true for even kids with the most complex of needs. IEP’s, care requirements, etc. are put in place ahead of time and should be followed through at school. This i:ncludes measures in place for unexpected stressful situations like a parent being late for pick up. If a parent or the EAs feel they need to be in constant communication all day long then there are some serious issues with the system that need to be addressed.  
 
I remember one time in high school a child had a serious medical event. No one had cell phones on them back then. The staff had to use the office phone to call an ambulance. This child was in no way harmed by that. A cell phone would have made no difference to the care that child received.  
 
As for a parent being late for pick up or just wanting to text their typical kids to see if they may need to be picked up, etc., that is fully a parenting issue. Cell phones can be used once the child leaves the school, so I’m sure the kids can wait outside after school and communicate with you then.  
 
None of my kids have been allowed cell phones before high school so the K-8 rules don’t affect us at all. My high school kids don’t use their phones in class anyways, so they haven’t complained yet about the new rules. My one daughter started feeling unwell during 3rd period one time. She waited till lunch, texted me and everything was looked after. But really, had it been an emergency, these kids and teachers phones are still in the room, just in a basket at the door or something. There’s literally at least a dozen phones or more anyone can grab if there is that serious of an issue. Anything else can wait.  
 
Edited by Jellybean, 2024-09-07 13:38:08

Well said!

I’m not saying I agree with cell phones in classrooms at all. Lots of children need a cellphone with them, but it doesn’t need to be on during class- there is no rule against this though, they are allowed to have their phones just turned off. But I do think it’s worth mentioning, not all children with additional needs are in the life skills suite. Neurodivergent children, such as those with autism, are often very academically gifted, but struggle with social interactions and would not be well suited to spending time with an EA in a life skills suite. These children may panic at the thought of having to go to the office to use the phone, they may also panic whilst waiting for a parent who is late- this can cause meltdowns and severe anxiety for them. And they don’t need to ‘learn’ to adapt or suck it up when they are socially uncomfortable or anxious. Their neurodivergence isn’t a problem to be fixed. I’m not suggesting you are saying it is, and your post makes a lot of good points, but I do think many people are unaware of the neurodivergent children who exist among them and what their needs are, unless they have spend time with those children, or are neurodivergent themselves(I’m not suggesting you havnt, but it’s clear many in the post have not) I also think it’s worth mentioning for many people in this post, that the world has dramatically changed since they were in school. Brandon is a bigger city than it was in the past, there is a higher crime rate, and more drug issues etc which obviously can cause issues that can translate to walks to and from schools etc. there is different issues in this day and age where children may simply feel more safe if they have quick access to a cellphone. It doesn’t need to be on. But they don’t need people comparing current times to the ‘good old days’, because those days are gone.

I have a child on the autism spectrum so have first hand experience with this. It makes no difference whether they have an EA attached to them or are in or out of a life skills suite. Neurodivergent children who are not attached to an EA still can have planning in place because there may be many situations during their day that need some kind of accommodation. My child is one who gets anxious when busses are not running on time. The school staff that are on bus supervision know her and there’s never been an issue. She’s also out of school at that point and free to use her cell phone. She’s also free to use her cell phone if she leaves school grounds for a walk with friends and feels unsafe. None of this has anything to do with the phone ban in classrooms.  
And if there were a need for a phone call to be made, the teacher in the room would know and has the choice to tell the child to either go to the office or just step out in the hall and use their own phone. I’m sure no teacher who knew that the child needs accommodation because of anxiety would stop a child from using their own phone instead of going to the office.  
 
Edited by Jellybean, 2024-09-11 12:59:10

Oh I agree. I have a child on the autism spectrum and I am also fully diagnosed and on the spectrum, so I know accommodations are in place, as I have them in place for my child. I know they can use phones at the end of the day. As I stated in my post, I think a lot of people are unaware that there are neurodivergent children who require accommodations and are not attached to an EA and don’t want to go to the front desk or teacher when they may need their phone for reassurance or a personal issue. There just seemed to be a few people on this post who remember a simpler time where there was less socioeconomic issues, less people, etc. and certain people advocating for teens to leave phones at home etc. when that is not really the time we live in anymore. Or suggesting parents who communicate with their children during the day are coddling them in some way, when that is not the case for many children, and a lot of teens benefit from a direct line to their parents. Which they still have outside the classroom. It’s definitely not a parenting issue if they have a child that needs access to communication. I just know many people still live in the mindset that kids should ‘suck it up’, and some of the comments on this forum certainly reinforce that belief. As a parent of a child with autism, I’m sure you agree that many people lack a basic understanding of what autism even is, especially when individuals don’t display ‘visible’ differences.

I can appreciate the autism part of these discussions. As far as the coddling for the vast majority of kids goes , the parents have made them insecure coddlers. If a cell phone gives a child a sense of security, this is on the parent. How sad is that, that a phone can make a child secure. Parents, teachers, administrators should make that child feel safe. Very sad society we live in. I can't imagine how the children of our future are going to navigate this world, without their cell phones in their hand. This makes me very sad - and very worried.

I said that cellphones can make neurodivergent children feel secure because it acts as a lifeline to a parent, and that makes them feel less anxious. That’s not ‘sad’, it is the reality for many people on the autism spectrum. The world is a hard place to exist in when you’re not neurotypical, it’s not on the parent- it’s a neurodevelopment difference. Meltdowns, panic attacks and severe anxiety are common for people with autism, it’s not sad to want support when things like that happen. And then I said that for neurotypical children, having your phone on the walk to and from school would provide a sense of security, so no, they shouldn’t leave their phones at home. I certainly wouldn’t walk around Brandon without my phone, and you’re quite privileged if you feel safe doing so. I have had no less than a dozen frightening experiences whilst walking around town in the past few years, intoxicated people, threatening individuals etc. So I certainly wouldn’t call children coddled for wanting a phone to feel safe. Many children walk 30 minutes to school, let’s be serious, they should obviously have some means of contact. And I’m not saying I disagree with the schools phone ban, it’s not even a ban, they just can’t have them in class which I agree with, obviously. Just several people on this forum took the opportunity to criticize parenting, or suggest children have zero need for phones and they should be at home and that is simply not the truth.

I didn’t see anything about people suggesting phones be left at home. The ban is for in class only. If a child needs a direct line to their parent while in class for security that is a whole other issue that needs to be addressed and should be part of their IEP so the teacher is aware of the severe anxiety issues. And like I said, the phones are literally right there in a basket at the door. No teacher would ever stop a child from using their phone if it was an emergent situation. And in elementary school I certainly hope a staff member would be assisting the child to get them to the appropriate place to make a phone call if it was needed. There is absolutely no need for kids in this age group to have cell phones on them during the school day. If you want them to have their phone on them for walking back and forth to school that’s fine as I do agree we live in a pretty scary world right now.  
As a parent of a child on the spectrum I do feel we are creating a world where we are coddling even these kids to the point where we can no longer rely on supports in the system. Supports are not being put in place and followed through on properly because parents can just be accessed at a moments notice. I can tell you how fed up I was trying to work and getting calls from the school constantly to deal with issues that were supposed to be looked after through the IEP and support staff in the school. I will always make myself available to my children when needed during the school day, but we as parents need to let the school staff look after our kids and educate them without interruption. And it’s important for us as parents to teach our kids the appropriate social skills and that they can approach trustworthy school staff if they need something. We cannot be a lifeline to them 24/7, it won’t serve them well in adulthood. And that goes for kids who are neurodivergent as well.  
 
And the OP asked if the ban i:ncludes teachers. Well I would certainly hope so. They are there to educate our kids. I don’t care if there phone is in their pocket or on their desk or wherever, it should not be touched during class time unless it’s an emergency. And it should not be touched either if they are on some kind of active duty like bus duty, lunch duty, recess duty, etc. They are responsible for our kids during those times.  
 
Edited by Jellybean, 2024-09-11 19:44:30