Ahead of the Sept. 3 start of the school year, Fraser-Cascade Superintendent Dr. Balan Moorthy detailed the district's upcoming cell phone policy in a welcome letter.
Moorthy said SD78 officials have incorporated local feedback into their new cellphone guidelines in light of Tuesday's announcement from Premier David Eby that there will be a "bell to bell" ban on cellphones. Eby said the restrictions aim to limit distractions and curb the harmful effects of cellphones on socialization, literacy and mental health.
At SD78 schools, students will have access to school- or district-owned devices for educational and instructional needs, but personal electronic devices like cellphones will not be allowed to be accessed or used during the school day. Exceptions can be made if using a personal device is part of a planned lesson.
In all secondary schools – outside of instructional hours – students can use their devices "in a respectful and non-disruptive manner." For example, a student can us their devices during morning break, lunch or while on the bus before and after school.
There are exceptions for students who have modified learning or health circumstances that require a personal cellphone, in the interest of inclusion.
The provincial government has been working to limit cellphones in schools since January with the hopes of implementing policies province-wide by the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. Eby said most school district boards have adopted the policy, some with minor modifications. This bell-to-bell ban is, in turn, part of a larger agenda hoping to curb the harmful effects of social media, particularly on children.
– With files from Wolf Depner
