Vancouver school district to restrict phone use for K-7 students

Vancouver students from kindergarten to Grade 7 will soon have to keep their phones out of sight at school.

The Vancouver School Board (VSB) has updated its code of conduct to restrict personal digital devices like cellphones and tablets on school grounds.

Devices must be silent and out of sight from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. including during recess and lunch time according to a Friday email from the district to families of students in the Vancouver school district.

The update takes effect on July 1, the email says. The change followed a recent vote by VSB trustees aimed at promoting "focused learning environments and online safety."

"Cellphones are a major distraction for learning," said trustee Preeti Faridkot at the June 10 meeting.

"We're so dependent on cellphones and on our watches for alerts that it creates a negative impact on mental health. Students lack social skills nowadays."

Faridkot,who is also an IT analyst,added that she wanted to see restrictions for up to Grade 12, but she understands high school students need cellphones to access resources or for medical reasons.

Trustees Suzie Mah and Jennifer Reddy voted against the motion.

Reddy said there are still outstanding concerns and questions about the move, such as the impact it would have on technology allocations in schools and how it would address the issue of online safety. She said she wants to see more consultation with teachers and staff.

According to the VSB email, affected students will still be able to use their devices for educational purposes as directed by their teachers. They can also do so for medical purposes as outlined in an individual education plan or student safety plan, and for special education needs.

Students who don't follow the rule "may be asked to store their personal digital devices with an administrator for the remainder of the day," the email adds.

B.C. announced in January that a policyrestricting phone use in schools would be in place across the province by the start of the next school year.

Similar bans were adopted inQuebeclast year and inOntario in 2019.