Technology continues to integrate itself into daily life, and sometimes it can become a distraction. Cellphones are becoming more commonplace, and can sometimes cause disruptions in classrooms.

Starting in September, Ontario will ban cellphones in classrooms during instructional time. Enforcement of the ban would be up to individual school boards, with exceptions made for medical reasons, students with special needs, and if teachers wanted to use them during the lesson.

Garden Valley School Division Superintendent, Todd Monster, says GVSD hasn't debated the idea of a ban within the division but says it does have a policy which gives schools the authorization to set general limitations of possession of cellphones.

"Our goal is to ensure two primary things, the educational integrity of the program as well as the privacy of others. There's flexibility there so that teachers can use cellphones if there's an educational value into it, we leave that to their discretion and the discretion of principals."

He says students do use cellphones periodically; as calculators, for projects where cell phone use is allowed, or for Internet searches. Monster says for the most part students have access to computers or other mobile devices provided by the school, so there isn't much need for a cellphone.

The division's policies have been around for quite a few years, and students are respecting those policies, says Monster.

"Feedback from schools and principals indicate that cellphones aren't a big issue with our students. They understand what the expectations are and they also understand and appreciate the need for balance in their life' there's a time for their phone, and a time when they need to focus on their studies."

If used in the right context and at the discretion of teachers and principals, Monster says cellphones can have a place in the classroom. He adds It's not cellphones but laptop computers and other devices which have allowed the integration of technology into the classroom.