Saskatchewan Announces Province-Wide Cellphone Ban in Classrooms

Cellphones will be off limits in all Saskatchewan classrooms as of this fall, the province has announced. The new policy will apply to all schools in the province, impacting students from kindergarten through Grade 12. “Technology has its place, but too often, [cellphones] are taking students’ attention away from what they should be learning,” Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said in an Aug. 6 press release. “This new policy will allow students to be more engaged with their teachers and focused on learning the skills and knowledge they need to reach their potential.” Teachers can request an exemption for students in grades 9 to 12 if cellphones are needed for instructional purposes, the government said. Exemptions will also be granted for students who need their mobile devices for medical or specific learning needs....