ontario teachers' union calls for classroom cellphone ban - digital board for classroom

The largest union of teachers in Ontario in torunto wants to check the phone at the door of the classroom unless the teacher says otherwise.
The advice to limit technology is not to distract from the classroom, not to be too heavy --
The Ontario Federation of primary school teachers says it represents 76,000 public primary school teachers.
"This does not mean a ban.
This will be decided by the school and the school board, "said Craig Smith, the union's London chairman --area wing.
"The main motivation is to really eliminate or minimize disruption in the classroom.
"Many schools welcome hands-
Handheld gadgets for teaching purposes.
It is also a convenient way for parents to monitor their children and put personal safety tools in their hands.
But this move by the union has focused on trying to educate children who may be distracted.
In the school system, the rules vary from board to board, but without permission from a teacher or school, children are generally not allowed to use their mobile phones in class.
Marion Moynihan said: "Our policies and procedures are basically in line with this because students will not use them in the classroom unless specific teachers allow them . ", The Thames Valley Regional School Board is the largest school system in the region.
Most observers believe that not using a mobile phone is not an option.
They are too common.
"In view of the scale and nature of the technology, it would be an unreasonable expectation to ban them altogether," said Steve Howe, spokesman for the school board of the Avon Maitland District.
A professor at the University of London said that teachers may take action.
"We are developing this culture of vanity obsession, which is always carried out in the name of security," said Tim Blackmore, a professor of media studies at West University.
"But in reality, I think it will do more harm than good.
Mobile phones can disrupt a lecture, says Blackmore.
"If the phone is turned off, I can handle it in a large lecture hall.
"I can handle a Episode," he said . ".
"When two people leave, I can survive.
But when I got the third place I had a problem keeping focus and at this point I almost lost the class.
"What makes the problem even more complicated is that many schools now have free Wi-Fi.
"Social media such as Facebook, Snapchat, and basic text messages are distracting because they are always generated --
On the practice of students being forced to participate in communication, "said Isabel Pedersen, chairman of Digital Life, media and cultural studies in Canada. melanie.
Anderson @ sunmedia