Increase in classroom violence reported at WRDSB schools
A report on student aggression in Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) schools shows an increase in classroom violence.
Trustees heard the report during a Monday night meeting that details a rise in incidents from November to January.
"Students hitting, punching, spitting, you name it," said Jeff Pelich, president of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario for Waterloo region. "Those are the behaviours seen in our community schools."
There have been a total of 606 incidents of student aggression towards teachers and staff, which is up from 270 incidents for the same quarterly period last year.
Data shows that, of the 606 incidents, most took place at elementary schools.
"The increase could be attributed to students returning to the classroom after learning remotely for much of the pandemic," said Graham Shantz, the associate director of WRDSB. "We can speculate we had a lot of students that have come back into a school system and have not experienced it. That's a traumatic and challenging adjustment for students."
More than 65 per cent of all cases were directed at educational assistants or child and youth workers.
"So often when we don't have the funding, school systems are applying band aid solutions and not actually addressing the core root of the problem, which is the students' mental health and the challenges they are facing," said Pelich. "Children are waiting months and months and years on waiting lists to actually get the support they need.
"We have to recognize that, when a student is behaving aggressively, they are trying to communicate something. It's not that they want to be mean or they're violent individuals, it's because they are trying to communicate a challenge and they need help."
The board plans to temporarily increase support resources to respond to student aggression for the remainder of the year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. teen with Canada's first human case of avian flu in critical condition, Dr. Bonnie Henry says
The teenager who is sick with the first-ever human case of avian influenza acquired in Canada is in hospital in critical condition, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead new ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ in Trump administration
President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” in his second administration.
Here's why thieves may be stealing butter in Canada
The case of the missing butter remains a mystery, but some have ideas on what's behind the unusual crimes.
Former B.C. premier John Horgan dies at 65
Former B.C. premier John Horgan, a popular leader renowned for his affable personality and dedicated public service, has died
Alleged serial killer previously pled guilty to 2018 attack on Waterloo, Ont. bus
The woman accused of killing three people in three days in three Ontario cities also previously admitted to attacking strangers on buses in the Region of Waterloo.
Air Canada to add new routes to U.S., Europe and North Africa in summer 2025
Getting to destinations in the U.S., Europe and North Africa is about to get easier, as Air Canada announced it will be increasing flights to a number of new destinations this summer.
Body found in Montreal park identified as cryptocurrency influencer
The body of a man that was found in a park in the Ahunstic-Cartierville borough last month has been identified as cryptocurrency influencer Kevin Mirshahi.
History in Halifax is slowly being wiped off the map: study
Saint Mary's University archeologist Jonathan Fowler is sounding an alarm with a new study. According to Fowler, the centuries-old architecture that adds to Halifax’s heritage and historic vibe is slowly being wiped away as the city grows.
2-year-old gorilla 'Eyare' dies unexpectedly at Calgary Zoo
A young gorilla at the Calgary Zoo has died. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo announced a member of its western lowland gorilla troop passed away unexpectedly, in a news release Tuesday.