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Friday August 30, 2024

August 30, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

While Ontario's ban on cellphones in classrooms is a positive step towards reducing distractions, addressing smartphone addiction requires a broader cultural shift involving families, schools, and communities to foster healthier habits and meaningful interactions.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Published in The Hamilton Spectator and The Toronto Star, Friday August 30, 2024

The Urgency of Tackling Smartphone Addiction Beyond the Classroom

The ban on cell phones in Ontario classrooms shines a light on the widespread problem of smartphone addiction, impacting not just education but also workplaces, social interactions, and personal well-being, necessitating a multi-faceted approach for effective mitigation.

May 1, 2024

In today’s world, smartphones have become an omnipresent force, reshaping how we communicate, learn, and engage with the world around us. However, the increasing dependency on these devices has led to a troubling societal shift, where distraction and disconnection are becoming the norm. This issue is particularly pronounced among young people, whose formative years are now dominated by screen time rather than face-to-face interaction. While Ontario’s recent move to ban cellphones in classrooms is a step in the right direction, it only addresses a fraction of a much larger problem that extends far beyond the school day.

The Ontario government’s decision, as outlined by Education Minister Jill Dunlop, is based on the premise that reducing distractions in the classroom will enhance learning outcomes. The logic is sound—students can hardly be expected to focus on their studies when their attention is constantly diverted by notifications, social media, and the allure of the digital world. By enforcing a ban during school hours, the government aims to create an environment more conducive to learning, free from the incessant pull of smartphones.

News: Doug Ford’s new education minister tells the Star why next week’s school cellphone ban is so important

November 2, 2017

However, while the ban may succeed in reducing distractions during school hours, it does little to address the root of the problem: society’s pervasive addiction to smartphones. School occupies only a fraction of a student’s waking hours, leaving the rest of the day unregulated and largely at the mercy of personal habits and parental oversight. The reality is that without broader societal change, the benefits of the classroom ban may be short-lived, with students reverting to their phones the moment the bell rings.

This issue is not confined to young people. Adults, too, are increasingly tethered to their devices, often at the expense of meaningful, face-to-face interactions. Minister Dunlop herself acknowledged this, noting how even in professional settings like boardrooms, people are often more engaged with their phones than with the discussion at hand. This is a telling sign that smartphone addiction is not just a youth problem, but a societal one.

The addictive nature of smartphones is well-documented, with research showing that excessive use can have detrimental effects on mental health, social skills, and overall well-being. The constant bombardment of information, notifications, and social media updates creates a state of perpetual distraction, making it difficult for individuals to focus on tasks or engage in meaningful conversations. This is particularly concerning for young people, whose brains are still developing and are therefore more susceptible to the negative effects of constant screen time.

Analysis: Why Schools Are Racing to Ban Student Phones

October 10, 2018

The global trend of cellphone bans in schools reflects growing concerns about this issue. Countries like France, for instance, implemented a nationwide ban on smartphones in schools back in 2018, covering students up to age 15. The French government emphasized that the ban was necessary to curb distractions, reduce cyberbullying, and encourage students to engage more with their surroundings and peers. Similarly, Australia has seen several states, including Victoria and New South Wales, enforce school-wide bans on mobile phones, with similar motivations of improving focus and reducing screen time among students.

Even in the United States, where educational policies are often more decentralized, there is a growing movement towards restricting cellphone use in schools. For example, California’s legislature passed a bill in 2019 allowing schools to limit or prohibit the use of smartphones, citing concerns over their impact on student well-being and academic performance. The UK has also seen discussions around banning smartphones in schools, with former Education Secretary Gavin Williamson advocating for such measures as part of efforts to improve classroom behaviour and academic outcomes.

Addressing this issue requires more than just a classroom ban—it demands a cultural shift in how we view and use smartphones. Parents, guardians, and society at large must play a role in setting boundaries and encouraging healthier habits. This could include designated screen-free times or zones at home, promoting outdoor activities and face-to-face interactions, and educating young people about the importance of balance and moderation. Schools can also extend their efforts beyond the classroom by involving parents in the conversation and providing resources to help families manage smartphone use at home.

Analysis: There are cellphone bans in schools around the world. Do any of them work?

September 3, 2013

Moreover, there needs to be a broader societal recognition of the problem and a collective effort to change our relationship with technology. This could involve public awareness campaigns, similar to those used to combat smoking or promote healthy eating, which emphasize the importance of disconnecting and being present in the moment. Workplaces could also adopt policies that encourage employees to unplug during meetings and breaks, helping to set a precedent for responsible smartphone use.

The Ontario government’s classroom cellphone ban is a commendable first step, but it is only one piece of a much larger puzzle. To truly combat the issue of smartphone addiction, we must take a holistic approach that involves all facets of society—schools, families, workplaces, and communities. Only by working together can we create an environment where smartphones enhance our lives rather than detract from them. The challenge is significant, but the potential benefits—greater focus, improved mental health, and stronger social connections—are well worth the effort. (AI)

 

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: 2024-15, addiction, back to school, ban, cell phone, cellphone, classroom, discipline, education, Ontario, phone, school, smart phone, smartphone, student

Saturday September 30, 2017

September 29, 2017 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday September 30, 2017

McMaster going tobacco, smoke-free

McMaster University will become the province’s first tobacco and smoke-free campus next year.

As of Jan. 1, 2018, using tobacco and all oral smoking devices will be prohibited on McMaster campuses.

This includes the Hamilton campus, inside and on the grounds of the Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington, as well as at all McMaster-owned properties.

The university said it is working to help students, faculty and staff adapt to the new policy and educate the community before it comes into effect.

“McMaster University recognizes the unique relationship that many Indigenous cultures have with traditional and sacred medicines,” says a post on Mac’s Daily News website. “As such, exemptions to this policy will be granted, upon request, to members of the McMaster University community.”

There will be phased-in enforcement of the designation starting in January.

For the first months, anyone found in contravention of the policy will be asked to stop or referred to supports and resources. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: ban, Canada, Hamilton, legalization, Marijuana, McMaster, missile, smoking, tobacco, University

Saturday May 6, 2017

May 8, 2017 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday May 6, 2017

Shoreline and flood worries as wind and rain hit Hamilton and region

A flood watch was in effect for Hamilton as the city and much of southern Ontario brace for several more days of rain.

The Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) says this forecasted rainfall may result in further increases in water levels and flows in area watercourses, with the potential for significant flooding.

There is further concern about the potential impacts of northerly winds on the shores of Lake Ontario. Those  winds may increase the risk of shoreline flooding and erosion, with Lake Ontario levels already high.

The latest rainfall — from Thursday through to Saturday — comes on top of records numbers for the year so far.

“This has been a record rainy first 125 days of a year, never has there been so much rain in that period in the Hamilton area,” said Dave Phillips, Environment Canada.

Phillips says Hamilton has received about 87 per cent more rain than the city would normally get so far this year.

The potential rainfall may also result in local drainage issues in low-lying or poorly drained areas, and storm sewer systems may become overwhelmed in intense rainfalls over short durations. (CBC News)

 

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: ban, basement, drought, flood, flooding, rain, restrictions, water, weather

Thursday March 15, 2001

March 15, 2001 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 15, 2001

Canada bans animal product imports from EU

The federal government has expanded its ban on imports of meat products from the European Union in a bid to protect Canada from an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease threatening to devastate Europe’s livestock industry.The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced yesterday that it will not allow imports of pigs, uncooked pork products, some unpasteurized cheeses and dairy products, and semen and embryos from certain animals.

Canada already bans imports of beef and lamb from Europe due to concerns about mad-cow disease.

Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief said, “It’s the very same as we’ve been treating the United Kingdom for a couple of weeks.”

The government will also block imports of used farm equipment, which could carry the foot-and-mouth virus.

Britain has been devastated by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth, which attacks cattle, sheep, hogs and other animals with cloven hoofs.

The virus, which causes blisters on the tongue, gums, nostrils and upper part of the foot, is usually not fatal to animals but it can cause great weight loss since animals can’t eat. There is no risk to humans. (Source) 

 

Posted in: International, Lifestyle Tagged: ban, beef, BSE, Eating, food, granola, hoof and mouth, mad cow, meat, nutrition, regulation, vegan, vegetarian

Please note…

This website contains satirical commentaries of current events going back several decades. Some readers may not share this sense of humour nor the opinions expressed by the artist. To understand editorial cartoons it is important to understand their effectiveness as a counterweight to power. It is presumed readers approach satire with a broad minded foundation and healthy knowledge of objective facts of the subjects depicted.

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