Cell phones and other digital devices will be restricted when students return to class in New West next week.
The New Westminster School District has implemented new rules and regulations governing personal digital devices. The regulations, which are in line with provincial requirements, are aimed at enhancing student safety and well-being when using digital technology.
"We want to ensure that when kids are in the classroom, they can learn without distractions that take away from their ability to thrive in school," Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care, said in a news release. "This work will help to minimize some of those distractions so we can set students up for success, and we can then focus on empowering students to develop safe, informed, healthy habits when using technology and social media."
Sylvia Russell, who served as New Westminster’s interim superintendent for part of the 2023/2024 school year, sent out a notice earlier this year alerting parents and guardians to changes coming to personal digital use at schools. The changes impact the use of personal digital devices (PDDs) such as cell phones, tablets, smart watches, earbuds, and other electronic gadgets within schools.
Here's what you need to know about the new guidelines taking effect in September 2024:
Elementary schools: No student access to or use of personal digital devices is permitted at any time on the school campus during the school day.
“This is essentially a ‘bell-to-bell’ restriction from the beginning of school to the end of the day,” said the notice. “Parents are reminded that elementary students are always under direct supervision and that the school will communicate with home for any emergent need that arises.”
Middle schools: Access to and the use of personal digital devices will not be permitted at the city’s middle schools during instructional time.
“At the teacher’s discretion, an exemption may be made when the use of such devices supports a specific curricular objective and is part of instructional planning,” said the notice. “These schools will follow up with further information for their school communities.”
High school programs: Access to and the use of personal digital devices will not be permitted during instructional time in high school programs. Like the middle schools, exemptions may be made, at the teacher’s discretion, when the use of such devices supports a specific curricular objective and is part of instructional planning.
According to the notice, students are responsible for the security of their devices, and schools cannot be held liable for lost, damaged, or stolen items. If parents or guardians need to contact their children during school hours, they are advised to call the main office.
The Record contacted the school district regarding enforcement of the new policy and regulations.
Here is what New West Schools has to say about what will happen if a student is caught in a classroom with a device during instructional hours (or at any other time when devices are prohibited) or doesn’t use the device in a manner prescribed for learning purposes or for approved personal needs (e.g. medical):
- A teacher issues a warning to the student and asks that they put the device in their bag on silent mode or in their locker.
- If the student continues to use the device inappropriately, the teacher may take and hold the device or pass it to the school office for safekeeping.
- The teacher will then contact the student’s family.
If misuse of a device persists, the teacher will notify school administration, and the student will be asked to self-reflect; their family will be consulted.
“For students who have difficulty meeting the new personal digital device expectations, a plan will be put into action after consulting with all affected parties,” said the district’s email to the Record.
These plans could include:
- The school office holding the device in a check-in and check-out arrangement.
- The device being used only at specific times and for specific purposes.
- The device being kept at home.
“One thing to note is that the new regulations will not adversely impact students who require a personal digital device for personal reasons, like monitoring vital statistics,” said the district.
According to the New Westminster School District, studies indicate that constant interruptions from digital devices, particularly social media alerts, along with the habit-forming nature of these platforms and the increase in cyberbullying, can disrupt the learning process and affect student welfare.
“While our school district already has established expectations restricting PDD use during class, we will now uniformly apply these expectations across all schools, as directed by the province and our board of education,” Russell wrote in her letter to parents and guardians.
Students with specific educational or medical needs outlined in their individual education plan (IEP) or learning support plan (LSP) will continue to use personal digital devices to support their educational or medical needs, said the district.
Safe and healthy kids
The provincial government said the restrictions on cellphones and other digital devices in B.C. schools are part of a series of actions aimed at keeping kids safe and healthy.
The province said the new restrictions are part of a larger effort to keep kids safe and healthy. Other initiatives include: protecting students and staff from harassing protesters through the implementation of access zones around schools; creating and expanding school food programs; and beginning work this school year to make cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) learning mandatory for all students prior to graduation.
The Safe Access to Schools Act gives the province the legal authority to prohibit people from interfering with safe access to school grounds.
“Access zones are in place at K-12 schools, and police can arrest or issue tickets to anyone found impeding access, disrupting or interfering with educational activities, or attempting to intimidate an individual within 20 metres (66 feet) of school property,” said the province’s news release. “The zones will be in effect on school days from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m., and during extracurricular school activities at all of B.C.'s K-12 public and independent schools, with limited exceptions.”
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