The Manitoba government is banning private, one-on-one online messaging between school staff and students, including texting, unless the platform is monitored. Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt announced Friday that she has issued a directive to all publicly funded schools and school divisions, including independent schools, to revise their digital communications policies. “Texting is off limits between teachers and students,” Schmidt told reporters at a news conference in the Manitoba Legislative Building. Under the directive, school employees will be banned from communicating with students through personal social media accounts, private messaging platforms, texting or messaging features on social networking platforms. Schmidt said she expects the directive to be enforced immediately. She said any communication between staff and students must happen on a platform that can be monitored by school administrators or parents. What that looks like could differ between a Winnipeg school and a rural or northern one, and divisions will decide which platforms are approved, she said. “Those communications must always be done on a platform that is monitored, and ideally with parents’ consent and direct involvement,” Schmidt said. Noni Classen, Manitoba’s commissioner of teacher professional conduct, said unmonitored platforms are those that haven’t been sanctioned by a school division or other employer, or that aren’t transparent and subject to oversight. Schmidt said the directive grew out of her time reading misconduct allegations as minister, before the Office of the Independent Commissioner was created and when the minister made certification decisions. She said she found “a consistent pattern was present in most of those cases” — inappropriate communication between teachers or school staff and students that “contributed to the grooming process.” “Far too often, we have seen where there are instances of misconduct. That misconduct begins with inappropriate texting, online communications,” Schmidt said. Schmidt acknowledged that texting can be convenient, particularly for coaches, but said that doesn’t change the rule. “There is never a situation in which convenience is going to trump the safety of students,” she said. The province said in a news release that exceptions can be made when circumstances require alternative arrangements to support a student’s safety, accessibility, well-being or learning needs. In those cases, school administration must approve the communication in advance, and parents and caregivers must be included or advised of it. Exceptions may also be made for existing family or personal relationships. Staff also can’t reply if a student reaches out to them on those platforms, Schmidt said. She said school divisions have been asked to report any updated policies to her office by the end of the year. She did not outline specific consequences for violations, saying her office and the commissioner’s will work with divisions as they update their policies. All schools must tell students, staff and families about any revisions to their guidelines. Schmidt said most divisions already have related policies on the books, but the province wants to make sure they are consistent. Classen said the directive is not specifically tied to recent disciplinary decisions regarding teachers crossing professional boundaries by sending messages to students, but followed broader conversations about systemic concerns. Schmidt said the province consulted the Manitoba Teachers’ Society, the Manitoba School Boards Association and the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents, and that all support the directive. In a statement to CTV News, Manitoba Teachers’ Society President Lillian Klausen said its members have been asking for clear guidance when it comes to on-duty and off-duty communications with students. “We are pleased to see the government taking steps in this direction. A consistent policy framework, supported by meaningful professional learning, will help reinforce expectations, support educators in their professional responsibilities, and strengthen the shared commitment to student safety and well-being,” Klausen said. “We welcome the minister’s introduction of this policy and are pleased that it will be applied consistently across divisions.” Schmidt said the directive builds on the province’s ban on cellphones in classrooms.
