No phones, no problem: N.S. school cellphone ban getting positive reviews

A couple of weeks into the school year,new cellphone guidelines in Nova Scotia are getting positive reviews from some students and teachers.

Under a directive that came into effect in September, students mustturn off their mobile devices and store them out of sight during instructional time, with some limited exceptions.

"There's definitely less distraction. So everyone's more focused on their work," said Stella Bussey Murphy, a Grade 10 student at Citadel High School in Halifax.

In addition to fewer interruptions in class, some students say they're are noticing they're talking to each other more because they aren't checking their devices.

"People are interacting more because they have to. I think the overall environment is a lot more learning directed,' said Lila Pothier, who is also starting Grade 10.

With consequences resulting in a meeting with a vice principal for the first offence and a possible suspension for the second, 17-year-old student Trenton Bradley said kids at Citadel are mostly following the rules, so far.

"I definitely went on my phone a lot more. But now that I can't, I don't feel like I have to. I feel like it's better. It's a good change," Bradley said.

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development said removing cellphones from classrooms has helped create an improved learning environment.

"Feedback from students, educators, and parents has been overwhelmingly positive. We are hearing that students are more engaged with their peers and teachers and better able to focus on learning," the department said in a statement to CBC News.

The Nova Scotia Teachers Union said it hasalso heard promising feedback fromteachers across the province.

"One teacher said to me 'It's so neat to see my student's eyes and that they're not staring at their lap with a phone in their lap,'" said union president Peter Day.

• Cellphones must be turned off in N.S. classrooms starting this fall

One of the things Day said he'shearing is that students are a lot more willing to contribute to class discussions.

"They're actually turning and speaking to the student next to them. Or they're in small groups and they're having discussions," said Day. "I think students actually really wanted this."

Overall, the change makes school less stressful, he said, adding that he hopesthis it's not just a honeymoon period and that the new habits last and become part of school culture.