More education support workers needed in Hamilton to help stop violence in schools: union

The union representing educationsupport workers withinHamilton's public school boardis callingon the provincial government to increase the number of itsworkers in Hamiltonand take action to stop violence in schools.

There were more than 4,000 reported incidents of violence against educationsupport workers in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) last year alone, according to Canadian Union of Office Professional Employees (COPE) Local 527. More than 70 per cent of thoseincidents were reported by COPE members, the union said.

On Wednesday, the union held a news conference at Queen's Park where Local 527president Susan Lucek said Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce "can't deny the crisis within our classrooms," but said "they continue to sidestep the issue."

"We demand that Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce increase the number of educationsupport workers in classrooms across Ontario now," Lucek said.

[Children]saw me being hit, kicked and bitten. I know how long it took me to deal with that. How do we expect four- and five-year-old brains to process it?- Amy Boyak, education assistant

Lucek said the situation is so bad that classrooms are being evacuated, students are sometimes "sitting soiled in their own feces," and staff have been injured with black eyes, concussions and bite marks.

In July, educationassistants (EAs) in Hamilton's public schools told CBC Hamilton say they're often punched, kicked, bit and slapped.

One student "loves to kick you right in your stomach, your private area, wherever he can manage to get hands on Holding your hair, ripping your glasses off," saidJennifer Timmins, anEAat a public school in inner-city Hamilton.

Another EA,Keira Major, says there are few consequences for students who assaulther colleagues.

"They are sent to the principal's office and they ...return with stickers or suckers or other tangible things with no disciplinary action," she said.

At Wednesday's news conference Amy Boyak, an EA for 20 years, said she's "constantly dealing with violent behaviours" instead of helping students with their academics.

She said when she first joined the profession, she worked with one child, adding that educationassistants now help four to eight children at a time, and their needs are not being met.

"I worked in a kindergarten class and those children saw feces and metal water bottles being thrown at me," Boyak said.

"They saw me being hit, kicked and bitten. I know how long it took me to deal with that. How do we expect four- and five-year-old brains to process it?"

Boyak said a student injured her hip several years ago and she has "walked through the halls with full body protection, arm guards, leg guards, chest and head protection," due to school violence.

Meanwhile, Lucek said children are losing out while principals and teachers scramble for resources.

Logan Slack, a Hamilton student who spoke at the news conference, said he has witnessed violence in many forms.

"I have seen students get into fights and staff members abused. I've had my legs kicked out from under me. I've been punched in the stomach, stabbed with a pencil and hit in the eye with a marker, all before the age of Grade 6," said Slack, who is now 18.

Violence affectedability to learn: student

According to Slack, his parents were not notified about any of the incidents, and he was the one who had to tell them what he suffered through elementary school.

He said he felt like no one was able to protect himfrom hisown classmates and this affected hislearning.

"I felt too anxious to concentrate...Without the [education assistants]that fought for me, I wouldn't be able to fight to get support for everyone who is in my situation," Slack said.

"So, I ask the Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, to prove that you're actually for the students of Ontario. Stop normalizing violence in our classrooms."

Lucek said the increase in violence is not because educators and parents don't care about kids, but is due to the government's lack of investment in increasing the boots on the ground educators in front of kids.

Province says it's combating violence, improving safety

In response to incidents of violence in schools, the province announced in April that itis investing $24 million to help reduce the risk of violence in schools and promote the safety of students and educators.

ButLucek said the government needs to do more.

"Of the $24 million the Ministry of Education provided to help reduce the risk of violence in schools and promote safety of students and educators, only four million in funding was allocated to educationassistantsto meet the needs of over two million students across Ontario," she said.

"Two dollars per student is not enough. That's the price of a small coffee. That's what the Ministry of Education thinks your child is worth."

A spokesperson for the education minister said the government continues to take decisive action to reduce violence in schools and keep Hamilton students safe.

"That is why we are investing nearly $700 million more in additional funding this school year, including $24 million on enhancing school safety and the hiring of nearly 2,000 more front-line staff,"Isha Chaudhuritold CBC Hamilton in an email.

"To enhance classroom learning, we have hired 7,500 net new staff, including 3,500 educational assistants. To better support Ontario students with mental health resources,our government isinvesting $114 million, which represents a 555 per cent increase from 2018 under the previous Liberal government."

Chaudhuri said the province has also invested incontinuous mental health supports through the summer months, as well as introduced new mental health modules developed with School Mental Health Ontario along with the support of SickKids, that provide a tool-kit of practical knowledge to manage stress and keep kids safe and focused in school and beyond.