The debate concerning the place of screens in the lives of our young people is taking up a lot of space in the news and we can only rejoice about it. The various stakeholders in the education sector have been asking for a long time to look into this issue.
Screens are omnipresent, especially at school. It is therefore essential to think about their use as well as the potential dangers they present. The most recent study from the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ)1 demonstrating that the educational benefits of screens in our classes are marginal will help reframe their use in Quebec classes. For too long, we have sought to impose the latest electronic gadgets on schools, presenting them as “the solution” to learning difficulties, without giving much thought to their real usefulness.
However, we must be careful not to fall into the trap, as we have too often done in the past, of applying a “wall to wall” approach to a corrective measure.
Certain aspects must be considered in this reflection, before introducing legislation which will become another headache for schools.
Distinguish between screens
We tend to use the term “screen” to refer to all the electronic devices present in the lives of our young people. However, this can prove problematic. In the modern era in which we live, the use of technology is essential, and school has a leading role to play in this learning.
It is also distressing to note that digital skills are not a separate area of the Quebec education program, unlike most other Canadian provinces. Using paper and pencil for taking notes and writing texts is certainly a good idea and an excellent way to counter the use of artificial intelligence, but technological and computer tools are part of our daily lives.
Do you still know many people who compile data by hand instead of using Excel or who write handwritten reports to their superiors instead of writing them in Word? Learning to use technological tools and mastering basic digital skills should be an integral part of our school curriculum. However, we must avoid confusing technological tools and smartphones.
Concerning precisely the presence of cell phones, smart watches and other personal devices in our schools, I am of the opinion that we should take inspiration from France and completely ban their presence from school grounds (both at indoors and outdoors).
However, consideration should be given to modifying the legal framework within which schools must manage the presence of these devices. Many schools are reluctant to completely ban devices not out of lack of will, but rather because managing devices is often too complex.
The simplest solution would be to rule, in future legislation, that schools will no longer be held legally responsible for devices lost, stolen or confiscated on their territory. Putting the responsibility for device management back into the hands of students and their parents would simplify everything. After all, it’s not the schools that provide these devices. Why should they manage them?
I therefore invite our decision-makers to exercise caution when studying the draft legislation concerning screens among our young people. I also invite them to meet those who revolve around the school environment in order to gather their opinions. If the government moves forward with a bill without taking the time to talk to the people who are on the ground every day, we will end up with poorly crafted legislation that will cause more problems for schools than it solves. .
1. Consult the INSPQ study “The use of screens in a school context and the health of young people under 25: effects on cognition”
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