Concerns that phones and social media are harming student learning and youth mental health have pushed school systems across Canada and the United States to restrict student phone use.
Are the restrictions working? We asked elementary and secondary teachers in Canada’s largest school district, in collaborative research conducted with Elementary Teachers of Toronto and Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation Toronto.
Authors:
- Sachin Maharaj | Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, Policy and Program Evaluation, Faculty of Education, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa
- John Ranellucci | Associate Professor; Vice-Dean of Research and Professional Development, Faculty of Education, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa
Thease are the wrong questions.
Are the kids grades improving?
What are the bullying vs cyberbullying rates?
Are there fewer kids on antidepressants?
Theacher’s feelings on how distracted the kids seem, isn’t worth much.I was put on ADD meds (yes this was prior to ADHD). Sure, my teachers felt I was better focused in class. But it didn’t help my grades at all. I felt dumber and slower. I couldn’t think as well. The effects canceled out in my grades. So we stopped the meds.
The questions that you’re asking are good. But it is also worth asking teachers what they observe, because often teachers’ observations are accurate. At the very least, teachers know when they are wasting time trying to enforce rules poorly.
