New Brunswick banning student phone use in public schools

New Brunswick has announced a ban on elementary and high school students using their phones or other mobile devices during the school day, starting in September. This decision comes from the province's Liberal government, which asserts that excessive screen time and social media usage can negatively impact children and youth. The prohibition will also extend to social media sites being blocked on school devices and internet networks.

However, students will still be permitted to use personal laptops and tablets for educational purposes. Currently, Quebec is the only province with a comprehensive ban on personal mobile devices across all grade levels, while Ontario has a restriction in place for students in kindergarten to Grade 6, with older students limited in phone use during class time.

Other provinces have implemented varying restrictions, from allowing phone use during breaks to prohibiting it during class time, with some leaving the decision up to individual school boards. New Brunswick's Education Minister, Claire Johnson, emphasized that reducing distractions and limiting exposure to social media sites is crucial for supporting students' well-being and enabling them to concentrate on building foundational literacy and numeracy skills.