New report shows increasing workplace violence in schools
Research by University of Ottawa researchers should be a wakeup call for the Ontario government.
Punching, biting, kicking and throwing things at educational assistants and teachers are increasing at alarming rates.
A key factor is lack of funding that leads to overcrowded classrooms, fewer educational assistants and unequal access to assessments for students.
“These are exactly the conditions that exacerbate workplace violence,” says Dr. Chris Bruckert, Chair of the Department of Criminology, who launched the Violence and Harassment Against Educators Project in 2018.
Evacuating the classroom has become almost a daily occurrence for many education workers. Nearly half the 6,000 support staff and teachers who were interviewed also reported harassment from parents.
This epidemic of violence is bad not only for workers but for students. How long will the Ford government continue to live in denial and financially starve our Ontario education system?
https://www.uottawa.ca/about-us/news-all/distressing-levels-workplace-violence-ontario-schools
