As Canada continues to grapple with a shortage of teachers, one of the key factors driving educators away from the profession is the abuse and violence they face in classrooms. This issue varies from province to territory, with incidents ranging in severity. However, the overall trend among education professionals is a growing sense of fear and exhaustion.
Ted Hupé, president of the Yukon Association of Education Professionals, explains that teachers are tired of being subjected to verbal abuse and threats, even if they may not be real threats. This behavior, especially when exhibited by young students, takes a toll on teachers and ultimately discourages them from staying in the profession.
A survey conducted by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation revealed that approximately 30% of its members experienced violence or abuse in the past five years. These incidents ranged from physical harm to teachers having substances dropped into their beverages. Samantha Becotte, the federation’s president, highlighted the harmful nature of such actions, emphasizing that they can cause serious harm to teachers.
Education unions and teachers stress the need to address multiple issues contributing to these incidents. Karen Littlewood, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, cites the lack of support staff, such as child and youth workers or psychologists, as a major problem. She argues that teachers should not have to take on additional roles beyond teaching and advocates for more resources to help identify and address students’ issues before they escalate.
Ryan Lutes, president of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, emphasizes the necessity of a system-wide analysis to tackle the problem of abuse and violence. He calls for greater support for students’ mental health needs, acknowledging that students who exhibit violent behavior often lack the necessary support and have complex needs.
In addition to addressing the issues at the individual level, educators suggest a focus on supporting youth who come from challenging backgrounds. Hupé points out that substance abuse rates are high among children in the Yukon, and this reflects in their behavior at school.
Global News reached out to education departments across Canada to inquire about measures to support and protect educators. Several provinces mentioned that funding has been allocated for various initiatives, including hiring support staff and providing mental health resources for students. Codes of conduct and training programs on preventing violence and bullying are also being implemented.
Despite efforts to track incidents, there are concerns about underreporting, as lack of data inhibits open and honest discussions. Hupé emphasizes the importance of having accurate statistics to address the problem effectively.
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