School year closes in Edmonton, teacher says cell phone ban a success

CTV News Edmonton's Connor Hogg finds out how students are planning to spend their summers as school comes to an end.

The end of the school year is a time for students and teachers to reflect. This year, some are saying a new rule has made a big difference.

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Teacher Reuben Gazer said he noticed a positive shift after the Alberta government banned cell phones in schools.

“As a teacher, it was night and day,” he said. “One day, kids were extremely distracted, and the next day, there was a genuine feeling like this is out of our hands, this came down from the top, this is the way the new norm is going to be.

“I’m so thankful, actually, for the policy.”

The ministerial order took effect Sept. 1 and banned students from using cell phones during class time or using social media apps on school networks and devices.

The province said the rules were put in place to reduce distractions, maximize learning time and support student mental health.

Gazer, who teaches junior high classes in math, science, robotics and French at Joseph M. Demko School, said he personally noticed improvements in student focus and attention.

“It’s hard to learn deep, abstract things when you’re kind of broken up all the time by small distractions,” he said. “It really changed the dynamic around here and felt a little bit more like school when I was in school.”

Alberta joined several other provinces with existing limitations on cellphone use in schools, with many reporting success the first year.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Connor Hogg and The Canadian Press’ Fakiha Baig