Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Students at Chateauguay Valley Regional High School (CVR) in Ormstown will be shelving their cellphones as part of a new policy banning the use of such personal devices throughout the day.

“We are disconnecting to reconnect with our learning,” says principal Lynn Harkness, of the decision to extend the Ministère de l’Éducation directive banning the use of cellphones in classrooms to the entire school.

“We are moving forward with no cellphones in the school, from when you walk in until you leave the building at the end of the day,” Harkness explains, noting students may bring their devices to the school but must leave them in their lockers, even during breaks and lunch hour.

“We are looking at what is in the best interests of our students as social reflective learners,” says Harkness, who strongly feels that limiting cellphone use and exposure to screens will allow students “to be more socially connected without being digitally connected.”

The policy will also help teachers in the classroom, where Harkness says cellphones have taken priority. “It has become a bone of contention. And the time that we spend navigating this is taking away from learning,” she explains. The hope is that by removing these distractions, students will be able to focus and reconnect with what is going on in class.

Increasing participation

Jessica Barrette, a leadership advisor and senior-school teacher, says student cellphone use skyrocketed during the pandemic. “When we came back to school and kids were alternating between days, we had a real honest chat about how much screen time they were clocking during those days at home,” she explains. Students were often shocked to see their daily screen time, which sometimes amounted to over 13 hours per day. “They had no idea,” she adds.

Barrette points to research attributing increasing anxiety levels among students to cellphone use and says this is directly impacting student interactions as they are less likely to take risks or participate in school activities. She confirms participation rates have dipped in leadership activities such as theme days, which are designed to encourage more community within the school.

Providing support

Teacher and parent Erika Rosenbaum says removing cellphones from the school is a powerful move. “I am almost sure that our children will look back at this time and say, I can’t believe you put a device in the hands of every child that gave them access to the entire world without supervision,” she explains. “I think that is a dangerous thing,” she continues. “And we are providing a safe space for our kids by shutting that down for a few hours a day.”

Harkness agrees, but she admits that there is an addictive factor to student cellphone use and acknowledges this transition may be more difficult for some. “Our intention is not to stress kids out,” she says, while noting they are ready to support students who may be more affected by the policy.

Harkness says she also understands parents use cellphones to communicate with their children during the day and suggests students will be able to use phones in the office to communicate with their families during school hours. Students may use their phones after school hours to coordinate transport, or to communicate with their families in case of schedule changes or late bus cancellations.

“We are up for the challenge,” Harkness says. “And we hope the community is on board to allow us to prioritize learning and community building.”