School -banned cell phone: 5 lessons for a successful turn

This is the great novelty of the start of the school year: the use of cellular will now be prohibited in all Quebec schools. Moreover, including during breaks and dinner time. However … In addition, it will however be in very different circumstances this time.

Clear rules to enforce

In order for rules to work well. For example, they must be clear, as are the sanctions that accompany them. Meanwhile, And above all, the school must be able to implement them, insist the school directors questioned. Consequently, In this context, the prohibition of cellular cells outside, on the fields of the school, is far from being unanimous. For example, “It’s completely absurd. Furthermore, A rule that cannot be applied is not a good rule. Meanwhile, ”says Jean-David Meunier, director of the François-Bourrin private secondary school. Therefore, The sound of bell school -banned cell phone: 5 is the same at the secondary school in Rochebelle. Furthermore, whose director, Jasmine Bélanger, deplores a “loss of credibility”, while his campus extends over 2 km².

Put the students

To succeed in this turn without too much resistance. it is imperative to consult the students and not to skimp on upstream awareness activities, according to the school directions questioned. “Our students are intelligent young people. When we explain to them, they understand, ”says Isabelle Martel, director of Oka Secondary School. “It is not done overnight. ” adds Jean-David Meunier, who believes that this change was a success because his team “took the time to take everyone’s pulse”. However. this will not be the case for the majority of schools which will have to implement this change quickly, from the start of the school year.

Activities to occupy young people

All the school departments consulted are unanimous: withdrawing cellular is one school -banned cell phone: 5 thing. but it is still necessary to offer other options. “Young people who are no longer on their cell. they are young people who need to be occupied, they have a lot of energy,” says the director of the François-Bourrin school, where the supply of extracurricular activities was “increased tenfold”. Same bell at the secondary school in Rochebelle. Oka, where balloons, picnic tablecloths, board games and ping-pong tables were bought last year. While the budgetary restrictions of June pretended to be a decrease in extracurricular leisure. it remains to be seen if the reinvestment announced in July will now improve them.

Adapt the life of the school

Schools should also not neglect the small logistical aspects that can make a whole difference: add clocks everywhere in school. remind students to bring their window card to pay the cafeteria and ensure that they have access to phones if necessary. At OKA school -banned cell phone: 5 secondary school. two self-service fixed phones were installed, and the team even bought digital cameras to take photos during special activities.

A mobilized school team

The secret of the success of schools that have managed to ban cells without too. much resistance rests on the person’s shoulders. “The most important thing is that the team must be behind,” says Isabelle Martel. Yes, the minister sent a directive, but you really have to influence staff members to work. ” It is also the mobilization of the team that “made all the difference” at the secondary school in Rochebelle. says Jasmin Bélanger. Teachers did not hesitate to go and play with the students during lunchtime. “It is exponential as an effect, because the link is developing even more,” he adds.

School -banned cell phone: 5

Schools that had already banished cell cell

Oka secondary school. Laurentides

1100 students

• The cell phone school -banned cell phone: 5 is prohibited for all students at all times, including outside the school, since last year.
• A device is confiscated as soon as a young person is surprised to use it at school. The student can recover it at the end of the day.
• Students who reoffend (after three times generally) must leave their cellular every day at the morning reception before. recovering it at the end of the day.

Rochebelle secondary school. Sainte-Foy, Quebec

2100 students

• The cell phone is prohibited for first and second secondary students inside the school since last year.
• A student who gets caught in using his phone must leave him at the secretariat. recovers him at the end of the day.
• In the event of a recurrence, it is the parent who comes to seek cellular after school day.

François-Bourrin private secondary school. Quebec

600 students

school -banned cell phone: 5
• The cell phone is prohibited inside for all students since last year, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
• A young person must meet a speaker when he uses his cell phone for a first time.
• His device is confiscated for seven days if he does it again after the first warning.

Cellular prohibited at the start of the school year

• In all primary. secondary schools, including on the school field
• From the start to the end of the lessons
• Each school is responsible for setting up means to enforce this instruction