Commentary
In Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador often does things last even though the sun rises there first. In 1949, for example, it was the last province to join Confederation. And last week, it was the last province to enact province-wide restrictions on smartphones in schools.
And it’s about time. According to early reports from other provinces that have restricted the use of smartphones and other devices, students are less likely to be distracted in class. Instead of constantly checking their phones for messages, they’re more likely to engage with the teacher and their peers. In fact, the latest report from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) noted a “strong association” between smartphone distraction and student performance….