Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September

Ontario is introducing a series of measures to reduce cell phone use and smoking in schools.
The new rules will take effect in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Beginning in September, students in kindergarten through sixth grade will be required to keep their phones off and out of sight throughout the day, unless authorized by the teacher.
Students have a little more flexibility between grades 7 and 12, as cell phones are only prohibited during class time.
  If a student violates the rules, their cell phone must be immediately surrendered to staff and parents will be notified.
"We have heard loud and clear from parents and teachers that cell phones in classrooms are distracting children from learning," Education Minister Stephen Leche said in a statement released Sunday.
When it comes to cell phones, our policy is "out of sight and out of mind" as we bring students back to basics by restoring focus, safety and common sense in Ontario schools.
As part of the new policy, social media sites will be banned from all school networks and devices. The government will also ban the sharing and recording of videos or photos of people without express consent, although it is unclear how this will be monitored or enforced.
Teachers are also asked to include comments on report cards about how distracted students are in class.


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