Tough rules force reporting of bullies
Carmelina Prete
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 29, 2010)
All school staff across Ontario -- from teachers to janitors -- will be mandated by law to report bullying and other serious incidents to the school principal, beginning Monday.
The far-reaching legislation, designed to make schools safer, also makes it a parent's right to know what is happening if their child is victimized. Principals must contact parents of a victim, disclose what took place, the harm caused and what steps have been taken to protect a student's safety.
Pam Reinholdt, superintendent for safe schools in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, believes parents will welcome the change.
"In the past, we've never been able to divulge what's happened to the perpetrator," she said.
"Parents got anxious that we didn't do anything. Although we may have been doing it, we weren't able to disclose it. Now we have a little bit of leeway."
Reporting is now mandatory for all behaviour that would be grounds for suspension or expulsion, including bullying, swearing at a teacher, threatening to seriously harm someone or a physical fight that requires medical attention.
While it's common sense those acts should be brought to a principal's attention, that isn't always happening and that's why mandatory reporting is so significant, said Stu Auty, president of the Canadian Safe School Network.
Educators who fail to report serious incidents could face sanctions under the Ontario College of Teachers Act for failing to comply with the Education Act.
The new law also mandates that those who deal directly with students, such as teachers and educational assistants, must respond to improper behaviour, such as a sexist remark or offensive joke.
Auty, who helped write a safe schools report that made recommendations for this legislation, said it's important adults speak out about inappropriate behaviour.
"Kids often don't understand the impact of their actions unless it's pointed out," he said.
"If an adult does not respond ... it's essentially a licence to the kids that see it that it can continue."
Katie Neu, 18, of Listowel, said she was so sick of being bullied relentlessly that she dropped out of school in Grade 9 and earned her diploma online.
She believes the law sends a message that people are treating bullying more seriously, but worries it will be difficult to enforce.
"Whenever I got bullied, (the schools) never did anything," said Neu who, along with another student, Rob Frenette, created BullyingCanada.ca, a youth-oriented website.
"People stop believing you after a while. We felt so alone."
The legislation, first announced last March, means school staff must undergo training. Secondary school teachers from Hamilton's Catholic board get their training Tuesday. Sergio Cacoilo, Hamilton's Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association unit president, says the legislation gives teachers more control and makes vice-principals and principals more accountable to parents.
"As a classroom teacher, it means now I have a right to bring (a problem) to the vice-principal and the vice-principal must take action."
The legislation ensures follow-through because principals must report back to teachers in writing.
A common complaint, he said, is that some vice-principals are reluctant to discipline students.
