“Our students are not to blame; the government is failing them time and time again.” Why has there been an increase in violence in Ontario schools?

BY PAUL JUNOR

There has been a lot of attention directed to the level of violence that has been occurring in Ontario schools in 2023. The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) released a press release on Friday, May 12^th, 2023, that summarizes the results of its 2023 All Member Violence Survey. Strategic Communications Inc. conducted the online survey during February and March 2023.

Karen Brown, President of ETFO, states in the press release, “Learning is being disrupted and violence is being normalized in schools because the Ford government refuses to adequately invest in public education. The system is suffering from chronic underfunding, creating environments where students’ needs are going unmet. The province must provide adequate funding so learning and working environments are physically and psychologically safe for students, teachers and education workers.”

President Brown notes in the press release, “It’s clear that many school spaces are not safe, especially for those on the front lines with students whose needs are not being met. Students would never choose those behaviours. This is symptomatic of a system where students are not getting the support and resources they need-not for their education nor for their mental health.”

President Brown blames the lack of funding by the provincial government as the reason for the increase in violence in schools. She states, “The system is suffering from chronic underfunding, under-resourcing, and understaffing, creating environments where students’ needs are going unmet. The province must provide adequate funding so learning and working environments are physically and psychologically safe for students, teachers, and education workers.” ETFO believes that the lack of education support workers has created significant gaps in the promise of public education to be inclusive.

President Brown stated at a news conference on Monday, May 15^th, “The results are alarming and distressing and action must be taken at the provincial, and school board levels.” She mentioned that there has been an escalation in violence since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lisa Dunbar, a ETFO member and teacher states, “What we are seeing is a symptom of a bigger problem. Ontario students are under supported because our public education is underfunded. I want to be clear; our students are not to be blame. The government is failing them time and time again, especially those who are most vulnerable.”

Some of the results of the survey are:

• Educators working with younger children are more likely to experience violence.
• 86% of ETFO members who work in special education have personally experienced violence or witnessed it against another staff person.
• Four out of five members state there are more incidents of violence in schools now than when they started working in the Ontario public elementary school system.
• Two-thirds of members say the severity of violent incidents has increased and 72% say the number of incidents has increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• More than 80% agree that violence in schools is making working with students more difficult and that it interferes with classroom management.
• Front-line support is often not available to educators and students. A majority report that: educational assistants (61%), and social workers (56%) were available only some of the time, rarely or never when needed this school year.
• Administrators know that violence is a problem, but do not always act on reports of violence.
• 42% of members have suffered a physical injury, illness or psychological injury/illness as a result of workplace violence against them this school year.
• Approximately 30% of ETFO members’ injuries warranted a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board claim although those claims weren’t always submitted.

The research report and summary which was conducted by Strategic Communications will be forthcoming at the website:www.etfo.ca