Hanover School Division Limits Internet Access to Promote Better Sleep

The Hanover School Division in southeastern Manitoba has implemented a restriction on nighttime internet access for student laptops in an effort to encourage healthier sleep habits. Beginning March 2024, school-issued Chromebooks will have their internet connectivity disabled from midnight to 06:00 each day. During this time, access to the Google suite, which includes tools such as Google Docs, will remain available, but all other internet usage will be blocked.

In a letter to parents, the division expressed concerns about students using their Chromebooks late into the night. Marlin Adrian, assistant superintendent for the division, stated, “Research is very clear that strong sleep habits are a key part of success in school.” He emphasized that since these devices are intended for educational purposes, it is appropriate to set boundaries that support student well-being.

The new policy coincided with the start of the semester and has received positive feedback from parents thus far. Adrian mentioned that the division welcomes further input from the community. “Our intent is not to monitor and tell students what they can and can’t do on their own devices, but to recognize that these devices are for education,” he added.

Many students have mixed feelings about the restrictions. Tylor Lewis, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student at Steinbach Regional Secondary School, primarily uses her school-issued Chromebook for homework and studying after hours. She noted that she typically goes to bed by 23:00 or midnight, and does not believe the restrictions will significantly alter her sleep schedule. Lewis acknowledged that while some classmates report feeling tired at school, she attributes this to factors outside of schoolwork.

“I feel like a lot of that is due to their own personal lives and not due to school-related things — like, people are out with friends or watching movies or whatever,” she said. Lewis expressed uncertainty over how the restrictions might affect her ability to complete assignments at home, questioning whether her peers would be impacted since many own personal devices.

Another Grade 11 student, Rojale Brightnose, shared her perspective, stating she tends to complete her homework promptly upon returning home and usually goes to bed by 21:00. While she understands the reasoning behind the restrictions, she is unsure of their necessity. “Some kids stay up a long time, so that makes sense why they would cut it off at midnight,” she commented.

The impact of screen time on children and teens has been widely studied, with varying recommendations for usage. Jo Ann Unger, a clinical psychologist based in Winnipeg, explained that the effects depend largely on the type of screens and the amount of time spent using them. Guidelines from the Canadian Paediatric Society suggest that children aged two to five should have no more than one hour of screen time daily, while recommendations for teenagers are less definitive, with some organizations advising a maximum of two hours of recreational screen use per day.

Unger highlighted that keeping devices in the bedroom can interfere with sleep, especially if they are not silenced. She also advocates for avoiding screens before bedtime to enhance sleep quality. The restrictions introduced by the Hanover School Division have been described as a positive step, yet Unger questions their potential effectiveness. “It sounds like the school division is attempting to do something to support kids and families to engage less on their devices,” she noted, adding that it is crucial for students to learn to balance their social lives, academic responsibilities, physical health, and sleep.

As the Hanover School Division moves forward with this initiative, it remains to be seen how these changes will influence student behavior and overall well-being. The division aims to foster a healthier environment for its students, recognizing the critical role that sleep plays in their academic success and personal development.