First day of school in Quebec without cell phones

Students are back in classrooms, and with a new year comes new worries for parents, staff and students. This year, Quebec’s new cell phone ban is at the top of the list for many.

Tuesday marked the first school day under the system-wide ban on cell phones and other mobile devices.

Students told CTV News that it was a challenge on their first day as they’re used to having their phones with them, including to see their class schedules.

Others say it’s harder to meet friends between classes without texting.

And not all teachers are enthusiastic about having to enforce the ban.

A group representing private school educators says they’re already overloaded.

“We’re afraid that it will be a lot of job put on the school staff,” says Marie-Josée Dallaire of the Fédération du personnel de l’enseignement privé.

While the government announced the ban in May, a parent’s group says there are a lot of questions still unanswered.

“Whether having the new rules about cellphones, financing, availability of services, what will be cut in schools… uncertainty for parents is the main theme,” says Sylvain Martel of the Regroupement des comités de parents autonomes du Québec.

He adds that the transition requires a lot of support from parents. His advice to other parents is to lead by example.

“Everybody’s got cellphones in their pocket, they grew up in this world, and now we’re asking them to go back to a world they don’t know,” says Martel.

Teachers are expected to follow the cell phone ban, which is welcome by some students who say teachers can also be distracted by their devices.

While it will be an adjustment, many are optimistic that the school year will go along as planned – without cell phones in the mix.