the overwhelming majority supported restricted use in classrooms.
in saskatchewan, cockrill declined to provide details about the alleged consultation, but said in a social media video the saskatchewan party government heard “loud and clear” about the need for restrictions.
our province is often accused, usually quite aptly, of copying its next-door neighbour, but certainly not when it comes to providing evidence for its decisions. or, for that matter, giving educators time to prepare with school resuming in september. many questions remain unanswered.
despite cockrill’s claims of seeking input, jaime smith-windsor, president of the saskatchewan school boards association, cited a lack of “robust consultation” on the policy, which will be left to school boards to implement.
that’s particularly interesting since the
school boards association seemed like an ally of the government in its still-unresolved contract dispute with the teachers’ union.
another unilateral move to impose provincial rules on school boards, some of which already have implemented cellphone restrictions, will leave trustees wondering again whether the province truly believes in their independence.