The head of the NL Teachers Association, Trent Langdon, says cell phones in classrooms are a major distraction and disruption for teachers.
While the provincial government considers changes to the use of cell phones in classrooms, the head of the NL Teachers Association, Trent Langdon, says teachers support the idea of a policy. He says it’s a major distraction and disruption for teachers. Langdon says he teaches at a school with 700 students, which means over 600 devices and cameras, and an open doorway to the world. The Department of Education is drafting a new policy that could restrict usage from K-12. Other provinces such as Ontario and Manitoba have already placed a ban on cellphones in classrooms. Langdon says these devices pose a real risk for child protection and cyberbullying and a couple of incidents can totally throw the room off. He says those devices in a classroom of 30-35 students can be detrimental to progress in the room. Langdon says parents need to support teachers when the new policy comes into effect. Devices are not allowed for students in K-6 classrooms. In Junior High and High School they are only permitted for educational purposes.