Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter
As part of a series of measures to reinforce safe and respectful school environments, Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville announced a complete ban on cellphones on school grounds that will come into effect at the start of the new school year.
Starting in September, the use of cell phones, headphones, and personal mobile devices will be prohibited from the start to the end of the school day, including during breaks and lunch hour. This follows restrictions on cell phones in the classroom that were imposed in January 2024.
Drainville made the announcement during a May 1 press conference, saying the decision stemmed from recommendations included in an interim report by a special commission on the impact of screens and social media.
“We know that cell phones are too often used to mock, provoke, or intimidate others. By banning them from school during the entire school day, we are addressing the root cause of many conflicts and, ultimately, allowing students to socialize better with each other,” he said.
There will be some exceptions to the ban for educational purposes, health reasons, or special needs. Drainville explained that it will be up to each school to decide how best to implement this change, while noting about 400 institutions have already moved to restrict cell phone use on school property across the province.
Chateauguay Valley Regional High School (CVR) is among those schools to have already enacted a cellphone ban on campus. The CVR staff and administration went cellphone-free at the start of the current school year and never looked back.
“Our whole message was to disconnect to reconnect,” said principal Lynn Harkness, who referred to the decision as a “100-per cent-plus success.”
Harkness said the impact is clearly visible. “Kids are talking to each other. Kids are interacting; they are looking at each other,” she explained, noting there are more students enjoying the outdoors or participating in school activities during breaks.
Harkness acknowledged that while some of the challenges with social media and cyber-bullying remain, they are much less present within the school. “The pressure has been lifted,” she said, while admitting she is still pleasantly surprised by how well the students have complied.
“It’s not like we are hiding behind corners to catch people like vigilantes,” Harkness said with a laugh, before suggesting that out of a student population over 700, less than 50 students have had their phones confiscated.
Harkness credits her staff, saying the decision to go cellphone-free came from wanting kids to get back to learning. The province-wide ban just reinforces that CVR was already on the right track.