Students in Ontario schools this fall won't be allowed to be on their phones in classrooms or use vapes in schools.
Back in the spring, the provincial government announced new limits on cellphone use and vaping in schools, and a release this week before school starts is reinforcing those new restrictions.
Kim Crawford, System Principal with Avon Maitland District School Board Student Support Services, says these changes will be a positive for students and staff.
"I think this is an opportunity for schools across Ontario to align their practices, to communicate clear expectations to families and to students, and above all else, develop supports for students," Crawford said.
Cellphone use boils down to a simple distractive device, but Crawford says the main concern around vaping is student health.
"The laws around vaping haven't changed, this policy just gives schools a little more structure in terms of, again, aligning their practices and ultimately mkaing sure that our students are well," Crawford shared.
Part of the provincial government's plan includes money for School Mental Health Ontario to develop webinars and resources for parents and students to learn how to talk about the adverse effects of vaping and excessive cellphone usage.
"This funding is going to help support our students who need it the most. We have excellent counselling supports across our communities and in our schools, and we have a tiered approach," added Crawford. "That approach includes education for all students, proactive measures and more responses for specific student needs."
Crawford says they always try to start September strong, with the health and well-being of students top of mind, and this funding to help with curbing cellphone and vaping use is a key part of that.
"Our educators are there to support students as they return to school. In some places, there may seem like there's more change than others, because we do know that many of our schools already had similar policies to this one in place," Crawford pointed out.
The new provincewide measures are taking effect on September 1, 2024 to directly counter the alarming rise of vaping and cellphone distractions in schools. The new rules will help combat the negative impact mobile devices, social media and vaping are having on academic achievement, mental health and physical well-being.
The government is investing $47.5 million to support the implementation of the new rules, including:
$15 million to support the expansion of programs that offer direct supports for students who are at risk of substance use and addictive behaviours
$1 million to School Mental Health Ontario to develop webinars and resources for parents and students to learn how to talk about the adverse effects of vaping and excessive cellphone usage
$1.5 million for school boards to work with their parent involvement committees to enable parents and community partners to run grassroots campaigns to deter vaping and cellphone distractions
Further, as announced in Budget 2024, $30 million to school boards for vape detectors and other security upgrades in schools
“By banning vaping in schools, our government is setting students up for success and prioritizing their health and well-being inside and outside the classroom,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and MPP for Dufferin-Caledon. “We are also reminding parents to keep their kids up to date on all routine vaccinations this school year to ensure our schools and communities remain safe for everyone.”
“With their constant stream of notifications and pings, it’s no surprise to anyone that cellphones constantly grab our attention. This is why it was necessary to restrict cellphones in the classroom and enable students to restore focus on learning so they can achieve better academic outcomes,” added Jill Dunlop, Minister of Education. “This school year is shaping up to be the first in years without the threat of pandemic disruptions or negotiations with teachers’ unions. We’re excited for the year ahead where students can look forward to uninterrupted learning, extra-curriculars and a back-to-basics, modernized curriculum that will set them up for success.”
Additionally, there will be a new graduation requirement and several new courses for Grade 9 and 10 students as the government continues to modernize the curriculum:
Grade 9 students will be required to earn a Grade 9 or 10 Technological Education credit as part of their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. These courses will allow students to explore and apply fundamental technological concepts as well as the engineering design process.
Two experiential courses in Business Studies for students in Grades 9 and 10 will help students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, learn the importance of taking initiative, find creative solutions to issues as well as learn how to start and run a business.
For Grade 10 students, mandatory learning on mental health literacy has been expanded in the Career Studies course. Students will learn how to recognize the signs of being overwhelmed as well as where to find help locally when needed.