{"id":19064,"date":"2024-05-28T17:06:20","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T17:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/escalating-school-violence-disrupts-student-learning\/"},"modified":"2024-05-28T17:06:20","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T17:06:20","slug":"escalating-school-violence-disrupts-student-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/escalating-school-violence-disrupts-student-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Escalating School Violence Disrupts Student Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TORONTO, May 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Toronto Elementary Catholic Teachers (TECT) are raising concerns about increased violence in schools, and the negative impact on student learning and the growing teacher recruitment and retention crisis.<\/p>\n

In a new survey, 82 per cent of TECT Catholic-teacher members polled reported that there had been at least one threatened, attempted, or actual incident of violence against a teacher(s), either experienced or observed, in their school this school year<\/b>, and 64 per cent have personally experienced a threatened, attempted, or actual physical assault<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Toronto Catholic teachers have seen the negative impact of the growing teacher shortage on student learning firsthand in their classrooms. At a time when we need more teachers, recruitment and retention is made more difficult when nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of teachers within their first five years of teaching reported experiencing actual physical assault at least once a week<\/i><\/b>, as well as weekly threats<\/i> of physical assault (23 per cent)<\/b> and weekly reported incidents of<\/b> attempted<\/i> assault (22 per cent)<\/b> \u2013 nearly double the rate of other teachers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith these responses, is it any wonder that we have a growing teacher recruitment and retention crisis in Ontario?\u201d asks TECT President Deborah Karam. \u201cThe levels of violence being perpetrated against teachers is unacceptable. Teachers enter this profession because they have a passion to make a difference for their students. They did not sign up to be punched in the head.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of those surveyed, 85 per cent felt that the main factor behind the rise in violence was the lack of teachers and education workers<\/b> to support the growing number of students and their diverse learning needs. Almost every<\/b> teacher (97 per cent) shared that violence in their school made classroom management more difficult and reduced the time for teaching and helping students (92 per cent). <\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cOur students deserve a teacher who is well supported to do their job. Many of the students we serve come from equity-deserving communities, as well as vulnerable homes \u2013 they need every ounce of attention and support their teacher can provide,\u201d says Karam.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, that is simply no longer the case. The constant disruptions to classrooms and student learning, as well as the physical and emotional toll on teachers and students alike, is making it very difficult to meet students\u2019 needs. Much more needs to be done to address the root causes of the violence in our classrooms. But to start, we need to immediately and dramatically enhance mental health services in schools, and we need more professional supports, such as counsellors, social workers, educational assistants and child and youth workers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The teachers surveyed reported that the solutions with the most impact would be to:<\/p>\n