THUNDER BAY — A spokesperson for elementary school teachers in Thunder Bay says he's not surprised to learn that the rate of violence against staff is a serious and worsening problem in the province.
The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario on Monday released the results of a member survey which found that three-quarters of teachers have experienced or witnessed violence in school settings.
The survey also showed that 42 per cent of ETFO members have experienced a physical injury, illness or psychological injury as a result of workplace violence in the current school year, and that 80 per cent believe the rate of violent incidents has increased since their careers began.
Dave Paddington, president of the Lakehead Elementary Teachers of Ontario, said "We like to think that these problems are southern Ontario problems, or big-city problems, but they are problems in every classroom in the province. Whether it's student-to-student violence, student-to-teacher violence, student-to-administration violence, student-to-educational assistant violence, these issues are very real and they are happening every day."
Paddington said coming out of the COVID pandemic, more mental health issues are showing up in schools, but schools are not equipped to manage the situation.
"We're certainly doing our best, but when everything's bare-bones, as our Conservative government likes to keep it, it makes it very difficult for teachers and other staff in schools to manage these issues that they're not necessarily trained for."
He believes there are several steps that could be taken to alleviate the problem, including measures in the broader community.
"Mental health supports in schools, guidance teachers, different supports for students both in the community and the school system would begin to solve these problems, but I think it becomes more of a societal issue. A lot of these students lost a couple or more years of growth and development in social settings, and it's very difficult for the transition back, especially with homes that maybe didn't have the support that those students needed."
Paddington said that at the local board level. there's not much mitigation that can be done without more help from the province.
"I think the local boards are tied to the financial fall-down from the government. I think our board is doing the best they can to support staff and students, but they are limited by the resources they are provided, and those resources are being cut – it seems – almost monthly."
He said the problem affects the larger school community, not just those individuals directly impacted by violence.
"We've got students of all needs in every classroom....When you're in a classroom of, say 30, and you've got a handful of kids who are apt to show varying behaviours, it comes a big struggle for everybody in that classroom, students and teachers alike."
Education Minister Stephen Lecce told reporters at Queen's Park that the government has provided more funding and staffing in schools, and is focusing in particular on students' mental health issues.
Lecce said funding was recently boosted to provide access for students to school psychologists and other supports during the summer.
But the minister added that the government plans to do more, saying "the issues in our communities and across the country on violence are having a real impact on schools.”
The ETFO survey was released as the union and other teacher unions continue bargaining with the government for a new collective agreement.
