Preliminary feedback on cellphone restrictions very positive, SD57 Superintendent tells Board

School District 57’s restrictions on cell phone use in schools has been met with positive feedback.

That’s according to SD 57 Superintendent Jameel Aziz, who reported on the restrictions at Tuesday’s School Board meeting.

“Schools are actually reporting a sense of relief from students around not having to engage with their phones,” Aziz said.

“Something that we thought would have a huge, well not huge but a pushback of some sort and maybe a challenge for some students has actually not resulted in that at all.”

Aziz noted he was at a recent Superintendents meeting, where it was revealed the feedback across the province has been the same.

“We are hearing from students that they’re actually engaging with their classmates,” Aziz said.

“When they have some time, they don’t just jump to their phone, they’re actually having conversations with their classmates, they’re actually looking at other avenues for engagement.”

Aziz noted students are appreciating the fact that they get to engage with other students.

“We are hearing from our high school students higher levels of engagement and a sense of greater calm in the classroom. We know it is early days, but the preliminary feedback is very positive both in SD 57 and around the province.”

Aziz added he’s hopeful the disconnect is helping students with their mental health, which was the intention of the restrictions.

This month’s SD 57 Board meeting was held in McBride.