Cell phone ban in class: A “terrible” decision, according to one teacher

A teacher says Education Minister Bernard Trinville’s decision to ban cell phones in the classroom is “appalling”.

• Read more: “It’s thoughtful”: Cell phones are already banned at this high school in Lac-Saint-Jean

• Read more: No cell phones in class: Minister Bernard Trineville will soon send orders to the school network

• Read more: Cell phone ban in class: Parents and teachers rejoice

Étienne Bergeron, the author behind a petition that has gathered more than 8,000 signatures in a few days, considers Wednesday’s ministerial announcement a step in the right direction.

“I dread this decision,” he said. […] There are many gray areas and the ban must have affected all other electronic devices such as smart watches, because that too can be distracting.

He says that all areas of the school should be banned.

Compliance with this new measure should be regulated by the teaching staff of the schools. Few are worried about the work that awaits them in this regard. This is the case of Richard Berge, president of the Estrie Education Union.

“We have to establish clear measures, because we can’t tell a kid that he doesn’t have the right to have a cell phone in class, but it’s allowed in the hallway. […]. It will start on a case-by-case basis and it will be a task for teachers,” he said.

According to Étienne Bergeron, this is not a new problem.

“”Teachers have been sounding the alarm for a long time. Just as we attacked junk food, we must attack the presence of cell phones in our schools.

A date for the implementation of the cell phone ban in the classroom has not yet been confirmed.