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Summary
As of Nov. 4, students will be restricted from using their cellphones or other personal mobile devices in Ontario classrooms during instructional times, unless they are required for health or medical purposes or special education or educational purposes as directed by the educator.
"When in class, students should be focused on their studies, not their social media," said Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s minister of Education.
During consultations on education reform completed last fall, 97 per cent of parents, students and teachers who participated said that cellphone use should be restricted in some way,” reads a statement from the province. The provinces Code of Conduct was updated, which “sets clear standards of behavior.”
The change appears in the Parents' Guide to the Ontario Code of Conduct under the heading Standards of Behavior, and under the subhead Respect, civility and responsible behaviour. All individual school boards’ codes of conduct are required to be consistent with the provincial code of conduct.
According to the code, students are expected to demonstrate respect and responsibility by:
- coming to school prepared, on time and ready to learn
- showing respect for themselves, for others and for those in authority
- refraining from bringing anything to school that may put the safety of others at risk
- following the established rules and takes responsibility for their own actions.
The code of conduct can be read here: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/safeschools/code.html