Halifax students on classroom cell phone ban [Video]

Alex Thompson was up at 6 a.m. Thursday morning. For the grade 12 student, it will be the last time he feels the excitement of the first day of school.

“It’s a little bit emotional,” Thompson said. “I’m pretty excited to see all my friends again.”

It’s a sentiment shared by students throughout the Maritimes, who will be learning to follow some new rules this year.

Cell phones will be banned in classrooms this fall except when they are being used for instructional purposes.

Alexandra Murphy is a concerned parent who thinks the ban is a good idea.

“They need to have all their focus on their studies and with the cell phone there it kind of is a distraction,” Murphy said.

Chris Thompson is one of the students who thinks the ban could improve his performance.

“I don’t mind,” Chris said. “I’m on my phone too much at school so it’ll probably help me.”

Getting back …