‘It’s a habit’: High school principal supports Alberta cell phone ban, but says it’ll take time to adjust

New rules effectively banning cell phones, smartwatches, and other devices in Alberta classrooms come into effect Sept. 1, but one principal is promising leniency, at least to start.

“I feel like we are going to have to coach our students. It’s a habit for them,” Tammy Tchir told reporters Monday.

“So we’re going to have to take an empathetic approach to this and take progressive discipline steps.”

Tchir is in charge of the brand-new Elder Dr. Francis Whiskeyjack School in southeast Edmonton.

Reporters took the opportunity to ask her about Alberta’s new policy during a tour of the high school that will eventually host 2,400 students.

The province announced the changes in June.

The education minister acknowledged many schools already have cell phone rules, but he wanted to create a minimum standard in an effort to help kids focus on learning.

There are exemptions, however, for medical or special learning needs. Also, principals and teachers can allow devices for specific tasks, but Tchir said that won’t be happening when her school opens on Thursday.

“We are going to be following the provincial guidelines on cell phones. So, no cell phones in the classroom. During breaks and lunch, they can use their cellphone,” she said.

The government is also banning social media sites from being accessed on school-owned devices like laptops. 

The Alberta Teachers’ Association generally agrees with the new policy, but its president is still seeking clarity on how it will work.

“If I take a phone away from a student, it’s a $1,200 device. Am I responsible for it if it gets lost or damaged?” Jason Schilling wondered during an interview with CityNews.

“Where does it go next? Does it go to the principal next? Does the principal call the parents to come in?”

Despite some uncertainty on specifics, reaction to the ban was positive when CityNews asked people about it on Whyte Avenue Tuesday.

“I think they need to concentrate on school and concentrate on learning and not be on their phone and TikTok and Instagram all the time,” said Sarah Lipsett, who has a 14-year-old son.

“If there’s a situation where it’s necessary for a kid to have a phone, OK. But for most of them I don’t think it’s necessary for the phone in class,” said Adi Tcaciuk, who teaches university math.

“All of us know how distracting (cell phones) can be. There have been documentaries made about how they’ve literally found ways to make them more addictive,” Hartwell Downey told CityNews.

While the provincial rules come into effect next week, school authorities have until Jan. 1 to develop specific policies and procedures. They are then required to communicate those plans to parents, students, and teachers.

Tchir said she’ll consult with teachers about how the new rules are working, but is confident educators have the skills to handle this change.

“We know (cell phones are) distracting. We’ve been asking students to put away their phones for some time. This is not new to us,” she said.

The province says more than 65,000 Albertans were consulted before the new policy was written.