Teachers at Earl Grey School on Strathcona Ave. will be banning the use of cell phones by students starting next week, except in the cafeteria during lunch. The East York Middle school is banning the phones from classrooms and hallways after complaints from parents and teachers about distractions. It isn’t said if phones will be confiscated if they show up when they aren’t supposed to but parents have been warned about the ban. The ban will require that students keep their phones in their lockers and not have them on their person while in class. There is no board-wide policy about phones at the Toronto and District School Board (TDSB).
TEXTING IN CLASS
“After hearing concerns from parents and staff the principal went to school council to say ‘Look, we have to further restrict the use of cell phones they are becoming a distraction.’ There was some inappropriate use, people were texting during class and they were becoming a larger distraction than before,” TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird told CP24 Friday.. “This should reduce the major distraction that it has become in the within the classroom.” He said cellphones may be allowed in the classroom for educational purposes when the teacher decides to do so. .He said the ban is not likely to be implemented board-wide.
