PAUSE Ontario
Parents Against Unrestricted Screen Exposure

Schools have office phones, staff cell phones, and established emergency protocols. Before smartphones existed, schools handled emergencies effectively. In fact, during actual emergencies, student phones often create chaos as hundreds of kids call parents simultaneously, overwhelming networks and preventing first responders from communicating.

Real emergencies require coordinated adult response, not 500 students on social media.

Digital literacy means learning to code, create content, evaluate sources, and use productivity tools—not scrolling TikTok or Snapchat. Schools can teach these skills through structured computer lab time and curriculum-based technology use. Unrestricted personal device access teaches distraction and addiction, not digital literacy.

Countries with the strongest digital literacy programs (like Estonia) have strict school device policies.

This logic would justify eliminating all school rules. Yes, some students will try to break rules—that's why schools have consequences. Research from Florida, Norway, and the UK shows that when schools implement clear, consistent policies (like phone lockers or Yondr pouches), compliance is high and benefits are immediate.

Perfect compliance isn't required for massive improvement. Even 80% compliance transforms the learning environment.

Schools already restrict many items (weapons, drugs, inappropriate clothing) to maintain a safe learning environment. Courts have consistently upheld schools' authority to regulate student behavior and property during school hours. Students' right to education is being violated by the distraction and mental health harm caused by unrestricted device access.

France, UK, Australia, and multiple US states have implemented school phone bans without legal challenges.

Social media platforms employ thousands of engineers and psychologists to make their products as addictive as possible. Expecting children to "self-regulate" against billion-dollar companies optimizing for addiction is like expecting them to self-regulate around open containers of alcohol or drugs. Even adults struggle with phone addiction.

Self-regulation is a skill built over time in protected environments, not by throwing kids into the deep end with predatory algorithms.

Research from the University of Wales proves that listening to music—whether you like it or not—impairs learning performance compared to silence. Music with lyrics is especially harmful for reading comprehension because your brain processes competing semantic information. Students cannot perceive the impairment—they think music helps when it actually harms. The brain also cannot multitask; it rapidly switches between tasks, creating a "switch cost" that can reduce productivity by up to 40% (APA).

Ontario students listening to music on school laptops/phones during math or reading are unknowingly sabotaging their own learning. Single-focus learning is scientifically proven to be more effective.

Schools are responsible for creating an environment conducive to learning. When unrestricted devices undermine education for all students (not just those using them—distraction is contagious), it becomes a school issue. Parents can't control what happens during school hours. 78% of Canadian parents identify screen time as a top concern and want schools to help.

Schools don't allow smoking or vaping because it harms health. Screen addiction harms mental health and learning—same principle.