Some organizations are lobbying the Ford government for measures that limit when a student can use their cellphone in school.
They are currently prohibited in elementary classrooms, but students in grades 7 to 12 can have them at their desks as long as they are on silent mode.
Angie Clark, executive director of the group Phone Free Schools Canada, says those rules are not always enforced.
“Restricting phones only during instructional time has resulted in inconsistent enforcement and continued digital disruption,” says Clark.
“It places an unfair burden on our teachers, especially in grades seven through 12, who are forced to manage devices rather than focus entirely on teaching and learning.”
According to recent surveys, 43% of students across Canada report being distracted by digital devices during class.
Another 33% report being actively distracted by others who are using their devices around them.
Clark says these distractions impact academic achievement, a student’s social-emotional development and their mental health.
“Screens are dominating breaks, lunches, and hallways,” says Clark.
“Students are losing a critical window to practice face-to-face communication and develop empathy and conflict resolution skills. Mental health, the influx of notifications and digital pressures are feeding elevated risks of anxiety, stress, and isolation rather than fostering true community belonging.”
Ontario was one of the first provinces to take action on cellphone use in 2024.
Quebec and British Columbia recently imposed a bell-to-bell restriction, something advocates in Ontario seek.
A recent survey by the Toronto Metropolitan University finds more than 81% of Canadians support stronger measures on the use in schools.
Senior Policy Analyst Rajendra Singh says getting the policy right is only half the challenge.
“Schools need support also to make phone restrictions actually work on the ground with clear guidance on the storage and enforcement to resources for educators managing this transition,” says Singh.
“No single intervention is going to solve everything.”
Supporters of greater restrictions have addressed their concerns with the Ministry of Education, but have not spoken directly with the Minister.
A petition supporting stronger restrictions was presented at Queen’s Park this week by a Progressive Conservative MPP.
