More funding needed to address violence in Ontario schools: ETFO

By Cristina Howorun

Ontario’s public elementary school teachers’ union says the lack of funding for mental health and special education programs is making Ontario classrooms dangerous places to work.

“We are seeing incidences of aggressive, destructive student behaviour in classrooms across the province that create serious challenges,” said Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO).

ETFO says violence against elementary school teachers and assistants is on the rise due to the lack of mental health and special education professionals.

“When a violent incident happens in a classroom, teaching and learning opportunities are interrupted, injuries and illness can happen, and staff and students may feel unsafe,” Hammond said.

In 2014, teaching assistants were the professionals most compensated by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) because of workplace violence — ahead of correctional and police officers.

The union says a lack of support for some of Ontario’s most vulnerable learners is at least partly to blame.

“Supports have dropped. Absolutely supports have dropped,” Hammond said.

According to a People for Education report, only 17 per cent of elementary school students have access to a guidance counsellor. There are 9,000 kids waiting for long-term psychotherapy; and according to Children’s Mental Health Ontario, some have to wait one and a half years for treatment.

The union is calling on the province to increase access to these services. But, the education minister won’t commit to making any more investments in staff.

“We are working on the strategy right now in terms of well-being — It’s one of the four priorities that we have,” Mitzie Hunter said.

Former education minister Liz Sandals made similar commitments after a spate of teen suicides in Woodstock led to student walkouts and rallies.

“We’ve got a serious, serious, serious societal problem here that we need to deal with collectively,” Hammond said.

Hunter and ETFO are meeting on Wednesday to discuss new ways of supporting both staff and students. Hammond said more resources are needed, but he’s not asking for a specific amount of money.

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