Media Monday - Ontario’s Cell Phone and Vape Ban

Vaping and Smartphone ban

As a newly retired teacher, I can already predict there will be some who say I am out of touch, but as I experienced the slow creep of cellphones and vaping into my classroom/school and because I touched on both in what I taught in my Media class, I feel compelled to add my voice to the fray.  This might be a long(er) one, so buckle up:).

First, if you didn’t know, the Ontario government introduced new legislation to “ban” vaping and cell phone use in our schools.  I would attach a link, but of course I can’t:(.  Search it and you can easily find the details.  It probably makes sense that I approach them separately.

1. Vaping

My understanding is that vaping is already banned in our schools and within 20 m of their boundaries.  It’s already being treated like cigarettes, so I’m not sure what this new legislation will change.  It sounds like they will spend money on vaping sensors and schools will now be obligated to inform parents if their child is caught vaping.  Please correct me if this is wrong.

The problem with any sort of ban over education is that bans can sometimes encourage the exact behaviour they are designed to address.  Marketers understand this well.  An example:

Years ago, when tobacco companies (which are also now the vape companies) started getting sued by States for the health costs of smoking, the companies quickly learned they did not want this money going to education campaigns because they were effective (look up the Truth Initiative as an example).

So, in all future settlements, the tobacco companies decided that they would be in charge of the “anti-tobacco” advertising.  Yes, you read that right.  This led to campaigns like the first “tobacco is whacko!” campaign.  One of the first ads included a picture of a guy with smoke coming out of his ears and his head spinning off.

Well, what they discovered is ads like this actually encourage a certain type of customer to try smoking because this is exactly the experience they want.  And the whole campaign was so “geeky” it also encouraged the “cool kids” (their target demographic) to smoke.

This current “ban” could have the same effect.  As many of us know, telling an adolescent brain they can’t do something often has the opposite effect.

What’s the answer - An outright societal ban might be the only thing that would work as there is now a whole influencer movement that encourages the use of vape products.  A counter-campaign (like the Truth one) could also be more effective than a school ban.

And, of course, we could also think about why people choose to smoke/vape/drink in the first place.  Although that might negatively impact tax income so we probably don’t want to think too much about it:).

2.  Cell Phones

Again, this doesn’t seem to be anything terribly new since Doug Ford claims he already “banned” them years ago.  Which isn’t really true - what he did was say that individual teachers have the right to ban them, but the problem is, there was no formal support to back them up on this.  It was placed in the school’s hands.  This doesn’t sound much different.

Years ago, when this issue came up at a staff meeting, we were told we could ask for phones if they were causing a disruption.  So I asked my principal what happens if a student says no.  He said nothing.  So I told him I would not ask for them as I had learned early on to not place myself in a battle (especially in front of a class) that I could not win.  It sounds like this has not changed.

But, even if it has, I still wonder if a ban is the answer as cell phones are not going away.  More and more they are becoming a part of our everyday lives and in many cases our jobs.  So, if this is a tool, like all the tools that came before it, isn’t it important that we learn how to use that tool responsibly?  And doesn’t simply banning them take away the opportunity to learn how to use them responsibly?

A better approach might be to demonstrate how smart phones are shaping them (my approach in my Media Literacy class), to challenge them to see how much time they are spending on their phones and to teach them how to use a tool like a phone responsibly.

For the last decade, I spent at least one early period talking to my students about phones.  I encouraged them to keep them out on their desk but to learn that they do not have to respond to a silent notification right away.  I taught them there are natural breaks in classes where they should check them.  This is also the behaviour I modelled (more on this in a second).  It wasn’t 100% effective, but it worked for the vast majority.  And for those who struggled with it, I tried different approaches.

One of the things that frustrated students was teachers who told them to get off their phones, but were then constantly on theirs.  I once had a student who was helping at a PD day ask me why so many teachers were on their phones during a presentation?  I had no answer.

My students also told me about supply teachers who spent the entire class on their phones.  Some with their headphones in:(. 

I also attended meetings and presentations where superintendents and our director were regularly on their phones.  Teenagers can see through this very quickly.  “Do as I say and not as I do” is one of the quickest ways to get students to lose trust in you as a teacher.

So I wonder if this ban includes the adults in the building?

And speaking of trust and responsibility, another question that I regularly asked my admin was how do you teach someone to be responsible or trustworthy if you never give them any responsibility or trust them?  I think this applies here, as well.

Finally, due to budget cuts over the years, some classes now rely on cell phones.  For example, the photography class I taught over my last few years would not be able to run without smartphone cameras.  Mainly because the cameras we did use for years broke down, but the money once used to replace them was no longer there.  I have no doubt there are other classes that have had to do the exact same thing.

P.S.  Re-reading the news, I see that cell phones will not be banned from schools.  They simply have to be “out of sight.”  Another thing I learned in the early days of cell phones is that teenagers are very good at adapting.  I remember talking to a student who told me he could text on his old flip phone while it was still in his pocket.  

How do we legislate against this?

I have lots more I could say, but I think I will leave it there.  I haven’t even touched the idea that, for some students, phones have become a very important link in their social lives, as many seem to have forgotten that secondary school is exactly that - school is secondary to the socialization.

Questions, Comments and courteous Challenges are always welcome.