Vancouver School Board to Vote on Restricting Cellphone Use in Schools

The Vancouver School Board is set to vote on a motion to restrict the use of personal digital devices like cellphones in schools for the 2023-2024 school year. The proposed motion, put forward by school board chair Victoria Jung, aims to update the district's codes of conduct to support digital well-being.

If the motion is successful, the school board will begin writing restrictions with consideration for "accessibility-related device use and student social development." The vote on the restrictions is expected to take place at the Vancouver School Board Offices at 7 p.m. on April 29, 2024.

The motion calls for the superintendent to create a working group to examine and review the new rules and their impact over the next school year. It cites the overuse of electronic devices, particularly cellphones, among younger students as a concern, associating it with distractions, setbacks in social development, and hindrances to academic performance.

Under the proposed motion, students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 would be required to keep their phones on silent and out of sight throughout the school day. Similar bans have been adopted in Quebec in 2023 and Ontario in 2019.

Why this matters: The move to restrict cellphone use in Vancouver schools aligns with growing concerns about the potential harms of digital devices, the internet, and social media on children's development and well-being. The decision could set a precedent for other school districts in British Columbia and across Canada.

The announcement is part of the province's broader efforts to protect youth and children from online harm, which also include a process for removing images from the internet, pursuing online predators, and new legislation to hold social media companies accountable. Premier David Eby has raised concerns about the impact of cellphones, the internet, and social media on children.

The school board is expected to consider the motion at the Education Plan Committee meeting on May 15, and there will be consultations with stakeholder groups before any final decision is made. If approved, the new restrictions on cellphone use in Vancouver schools would take effect starting in the 2023-2024 school year, with the working group examining the rules and their impact throughout the year.

Key Takeaways

• Vancouver school board to vote on restricting student cellphone use in 2023-2024.
• Proposed motion aims to update codes of conduct to support digital well-being.
• K-6 students would be required to keep phones silent and out of sight.
• Decision could set precedent for other BC and Canadian school districts.
• Working group to examine new rules and their impact throughout 2023-2024.