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New BC-wide anti-bully strategy vague, avoids homophobia, say critics. But it has potential.
$2-million strategy includes teachers training and stronger codes of conduct. Photo via Shutterstock.
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Premier Christy Clark passed a milestone in her professional and personal life yesterday with the announcement of a new provincial anti-bullying strategy for British Columbian schools.
A former minister of education and radio personality, Clark is credited with bringing the Pink Shirt Day anti-bullying campaign to the province, and has made the topic one of her pet projects. Now, as she told a room full of students, educators, police and media in the Surrey YMCA on Friday, the government is ready to tackle bullying in schools head on.
"Today I'm proud to announce ERASE Bullying. It's a 10-point strategy to make sure that every child in school feels safe and protected, to make sure that every child who's bullied will know that there's somebody that's going to stand by them and step in and try and stop it," she said.
The BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) welcomes the plan, saying it's something the union has been asking the province to create for some time.
"We've been calling for a strong provincial strategy for a while now because on the ground there's been inconsistent and inadequate responses to serious situations," says Jim Iker, first vice-president of the BCTF.
However at least one anti-homophobia activist in the province says this 10-step plan won't do anything to protect lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender/transsexual, and queer/questioning (LBGTQ) youth. After waiting for years for a new plan to attack homophobia in schools, anti-homophobia activist Ryan Clayton says ERASE recycles old promises from Clark and the Liberal government.
Creating positive school culture
The 10-steps of ERASE, which stands for Expect Respect And a Safe Education, include plans for a five-year education strategy for educators and community partners to identify and deal with different kinds of bullying: a smart phone app for students to anonymously report bullying; dedicated safety coordinators for each school district; stronger codes of conduct; and a provincial advisory board composed of educators, police and social agencies to counsel government on bullying issues.
"We will be the first province to provide consistent training, policies and protocols across every school district," Clark says.
Beginning this fall, the $2-million strategy will build on the legislation of the Safe Schools Act introduced in 2006, which required districts to implement codes of conduct to prevent bullying in schools.
Clark says she isn't introducing new legislation because she's learned over the years that bullying is not something you can outlaw.
"What educators need are the tools to be able to deal with conflicts in an appropriate way, and the tools to recognize that bullying is happening, and administrators need to know that creating a positive school culture is a priority as part of their jobs everyday," she said.
When asked if anti-homophobia groups like the Pride Education Network or Out in Schools would be included as members of the government's provincial anti-bullying task force, Clark said she welcomed their input. She added LBGTQ youth face increased risk of bullying and suicide because of their sexual orientation, and that won't be tolerated in the province's schools.
"Bullying is bullying and shouldn't happen to any child for any reason, including kids who are gay, lesbian, bisexual transgendered, and we do know that those kids are more likely to be bullied, they are more likely to commit suicide than other kids in schools," says Clark.
A 2009 study by EGALE Canada found almost 60 per cent of LBGTQ students faced bullying and harassment at school, compared to seven per cent of non-LBGTQ students. They are also seven times more likely to commit suicide than their straight peers.
Not about homophobia: Clayton
Just under one-third of B.C.'s 60 school districts have passed sexual orientation policies protecting LBGTQ youth specifically from harassment and bullying. Over 60 organizations in British Columbia, including the BCTF, West Coast LEAF and the Representative for Children and Youth BC have asked government to introduce a province-wide sexual orientation and gender policy to protect the province's students.
But Clayton says ERASE is not the answer to their prayers.
"If (Clark)'s introducing something to do with homophobia, this isn't it," Clayton told The Tyee, adding Clark has made several promises in the past to eliminate anti-LBGTQ bullying.
Earlier this year she promised NDP MLA Chandra Herbert an LBGTQ policy before the legislature shut its doors for the summer, which they did two days ago without introducing any LBGTQ policies.
Yesterday's announcement was fairly vague, however, which could mean a sexual orientation policy could come out of ERASE.
"Until some of these things are flushed out, I don't know if she's going to make true on that (promise) within anything in this plan," says Clayton, the organizer behind last year's Purple Letters campaign that sent letters to Clark detailing people's experiences with homophobia and transphobia in B.C.
He concedes other elements of ERASE are great, but they've been done before. For example, the BCTF already provides Safe School's contacts in schools across B.C., and stronger school codes of conduct were called for by Clark in 2003.
"If you're taking control of it that's one thing, but you're not inventing it," he says.
It's in the details: Iker
The BCTF's Iker is less critical of ERASE, however, saying he won't know how effective the strategy will be without details.
"It's always in the details. They make an announcement today, and we'll see how this actually plays out in reality and whether they're going to put more funding into this and make it more real in our schools."
Both he and Clark agree teachers are concerned about bullying their students face, and he welcomes the professional development promise in ERASE that mandates one day of anti-bullying training per year. But he says teachers need more than training -- they need adequate education funding to meet the needs of vulnerable, bullied students.
"We know that in the past decade there's been many cuts to our learning specialists such as teacher counsellors, learning assistance teachers, special education teachers, and these are the teachers that deal with our youth, especially teacher counsellors," he says, adding the province's schools are facing a $100-million funding shortfall in 2012-13.
"They're the people that actually give support to our vulnerable students who are coping with a bullying situation."
Regardless of his opinion on the content of ERASE, Clayton says he would love to provide counsel to government on LBGTQ bullying through the provincial advisory board. Or he could recommend other organizations involved with homophobia in schools.
But he hopes whomever they pick to advise government, it isn't just because they're gay.
"If they put someone on who went to school in the '80s, they're not going to know what the situation is right now unless they work in the schools," he says.
"It's one thing to put a gay person on there. It's another thing to put someone on who's active in the schools and knows something about it."
Whatever government decides to do regarding homophobia in schools, Clayton hopes they do it soon.
"We're talking about lives, we're not talking about making people happy, and the faster they get to it -- within reason of doing it right -- the better." ![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
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edward01ca
1 year ago
Okay, We Have a Policy Against Abuse
for kids, but when is Christy going to introduce a policy about not bullying adults like the teachers or any other group of people that belong to a union?
frances
1 year ago
Now if the students could be
Now if the students could be protected from bullying teachers, things would really be progressing. But I don't think the BCTF would be as keen on that.
There is a lot of dead & rotten wood within their ranks, teachers who get their rocks off with their little power trips while hiding their own incompetence.
All I know is that there is a very gross imbalance in power in the classroom.
Students have no one to advocate for them except their parents. If the parents are absent, too busy holding down two jobs, or new immigrants, the kids are out of luck. And the teachers pick up on this weakness and take advantage of it in true bullying fashion.
These are facts. My kids had run ins with some real third rate teachers. As well, my wife works as support in an alternative high school & brings home the horror stories every day
Iwonder
1 year ago
School bullies
I could handle the student bullies when I went to school. The real bullies were the teachers. Some of the teachers I had were scum.
Iwonder
1 year ago
edward01ca Probably a teacher
edward01ca
Probably a teacher or married to one. Get serious. I had to move my son twice because ignorant bullying teachers abused him. One was a woman the other a 140 lb weaky so I couldn't thump either of them.
When I was in grades 5 and 6 I had a teacher who would demand I stand before the class and would scream at me for 10 minutes or so. I often regret not going back and calling her out. I had several other creeps for teachers. I did have several very good ones and I did get a teacher bully chucked and that made my year.
Steve Hetherington
1 year ago
many years
since I was in a classroom.I have had many teachers and the ones still in my memory are the good ones,very good ones.I'm sure I had ones that weren't---just don't remember them.
I feel our teachers are bullied by this farce of a government and can only imagine the frustration they feel.
As always---bullies are cowards----yes you Christy
Kreditanstalt
1 year ago
Here we come...
Gee, if we only have ENOUGH laws and poicies and regulations we can create a paradise on earth! :)
"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that maketh the law, happy is he."
edward01ca
1 year ago
Yes,
I Wonder, I am a retired teacher after being 34 years in the classroom. And, yes, teachers bully and I am quite sure that I did too. But, I too was bullied by parents who thought their "little darlings" could do no wrong or did not do their assignments, but whom the parent thought I should increase their marks or "I am going to the principal or the superintendent". This happened quire regularly as it did and does to all teachers. After all, what did I know after being in university for 8 years and how was I supposed to know how to teach? You mention wanting to "thump" a teacher? Yes, isn't that a grand example to set for your kids and it is likely you were a bully in school as well. And, I am sure your attitude to school and teachers you have passed along to your "little darlings" and maybe that is why you and they have problems with the educatio system. But just remember, if you can read this, thank a teacher!!
Iwonder
1 year ago
bully
I ALWAYS tried to discuss any problem with teachers. Many were arrogant beyond belief. My kids could read before they went to school. I taught them. I could read before I went to school. "little darlings" --get serious. Both of my children are VERY intelligent as am I. "if you can read this, thank a teacher" for reading my teachers were my Grandparents. The use of that stupid saying stamps you as an idiot.
Forest_Lover
1 year ago
Bullying the people of BC
This is such an IRONIC article. Clark and the LIB"S are so bullying the people of BC its not even funny. They were elected under the idea of openness and honesty and they just finished their last term in the Leg refusing to answer a single question about their unethical bullying tactics. They are about as over due as a 3 month old dead rotting skunk carcase.
Fiat lux
1 year ago
How do you stop bullying in
How do you stop bullying in schools, when our whole socio/economic/monetary system is built on violence and bullying. Kids grow up with and in it and its praise is all they hear from day one.
It may be called "competitiveness" and "economic efficiency" to legalize the excuse to ruin the lives of millions to make a few rich with legalized theft, but in effect it is still the traditional bullying by ruling aristocracies over their subjects.
According to the theory, the system called "democracy" is supposed to wipe out enslavement and bullying, but the election of governments to act as 4 year dictatorships and the miseducation of so called "economists" makes it sure that economic bullying stays alive and well.
Ed Deak.
Skywalker
1 year ago
On the other hand.
For all the kids that went through BC schools over the last half century you have a few posting their failure to succeed on this site. This bull%$#@ appears every time there is a article on education or teachers or something related. OK, schools are not for some opinionated, misbehaving children but taken as a percentage of all those that enter and succeed, schools are not perfect but still do a damn good job.
Behaviour standards vary greatly from family to family. The kids reflect their parents values. Some kids are not "socialized" before they start school, some take their parents as models. Some kids have raised themselves while their parents did "their" thing. They all come to the melting pot of education and are expected to function in a group setting.
You didn't like it or you kid had to be told often to sit down and do his/her work? I wonder, maybe it was you?
themonsheshe
1 year ago
All these cookie cutter kids
All these cookie cutter kids out here in the suburbs, have cookie cutter parents that seem to notice when they see the smallest thing that looks out of place in their cookie cutter neighbourhood.Then they all get together and chat about what this kid was doing or that one was wearing.etc.
frances
1 year ago
Incompetent/Disordered
Incompetent/Disordered teachers are not reined in under the present system. The BCTF does a wonderful job at protecting them. Some teachers will take advantage of a kid being a new immigrant, or the kid not having parents to advocate for them. These are facts. There is no teacher discipline. Their bureaucracy is so bloated and constipated that nothing ever happens. Any time there is any criticism of teachers here we get this same bullsh*t, that teachers do a great job & the kids are responsible for all the failures. Why can't teachers be constructively criticized, are they not paid with taxpayer dollars?
Habos
1 year ago
Say Whuh?
Let me get this straight - the biggest bully in the province aspires to be the champion of anti-bullying?
To be fair, she does have extensive expertise and experience in the bullying arts and we all know that it takes a thief to catch a thief; however, she is so insincere that nobody takes her seriously.
Ah, provincial politics, the comedic arm of government!
Skywalker
1 year ago
One other thing.
We now have parents who never reprimand their kids no matter what they do. They can't be bothered to put up with the unpleasant aspects of raising children. Easier to just let them run amok. They then claim teachers are bullies for not putting up with the same disruptive behaviour in a class of 30 other kids.
freewilly
1 year ago
Re: How do you stop bullying
Keep your kids out of the public system if you can afford to do it.
Nothing against unions, teachers they do the bestthey can with what they have to work with. my gripe is with the system as a whole.If you are a sickly kid, a gay kid a little bit different its just not a great enviroment to learn in. Maybe my definition of learning is rather naroow, but heck there isnt time to teach children about socialization and getting along, I really think parents need to take on that responibility. If learning online works home schooling anything is better than the system we have now. Its costs too much, kids fall through the cracks we may be creating a generation of losers. Yes Im jaded, as are millions of us.
edward01ca
1 year ago
Freewilly, School is All
about socialization and getting along in groups, sharing, waiting your turn, seeing other points of view, other skin colours, other cultures. What do you think kindergarten and primary grade teachers do? Most of these thing cannot happen by home schooling your children or keeping them out of the public system. The socializing of home schooled kids is often minimal and they often only interact with others like them. If it is found out that your child has learning problems. the private system does not want them because it lowers their grade point average. The public system has its faults and I am aware of most of them, but like Skywalker says, parents don't see much value in discipline nowadays and when you get a class full of students who all feel that they are the only ones who should have the teacher's attention, then troube begins. And, that includes parents who think their child is the most important over anyone else's kids.
nutsnbolts
1 year ago
Bullies she can recognize....
crissy being a professional bully herself. Election now by the people FOR the people, not her corporate mafia.
Philly
1 year ago
This is mere posing
The government wishes to be seen as proactive and doing something about a larger systemic social problem; however, off-loading it onto teachers is ineffective. I won't repeat many of the valid points made by other posters as to why this tactic is problematic and fundamentally flawed. I do, however, wish to add another point.
Students also bully and harass teachers. Very little protects them from students who repeatedly and willfully disrupt the learning environment or abuse the teacher. And even if the students are (always temporarily) removed from the classroom, the little perps are back in the same classroom the next day. Why? Because you cannot deprive children of their right to an education, and there is nowhere else to put them. Been there.
cariboocooper
1 year ago
bullies and clark
It is simple for Christy, just add a tax to the bullies, better yet tax everyone more and then use 1% to promote a program and 99% for the Liberals....
kamie
1 year ago
@ edward01ca
Your wrote: "School is all about socialization and getting along in groups, sharing, waiting your turn, seeing other points of view, other skin colours, other cultures."
Why do you think these values cannot be taught at home? We homeschooled for six years and socialization was a complete non-issue. Not only did the children get plenty of socialization opportunities with their peer groups through activities such as art and woodworking classes, homeschool band,scouting, soccer, swimming, and church youth groups, but they also had the opportunity to interact with people of all ages. All three are now well-socialized highly literate young adults, who, I am proud to say, even take their civic responsibility to vote seriously. Best of all, they learned to think for themselves.
To get back to the topic, as the parent of a child who was bullied while attending public school, I hope this new policy has some effect. When we were dealing with this issue twelve years ago, the response of the teachers and the school administration was indifferent at best.
However, CC has proven to be a bully herself and she should begin by setting a better example.
TedH
1 year ago
All student should be protected from bullying
Some special interest groups will not be satisfied unless "anti-bullying" programs incorporate special indoctrination to focus on the bullying of students because of their supposed sexual orientation. The case is made that this is the principal cause of oi
n-school bulllying. However, the Toronto District School Board’s 2006 Student Census notes on Page 21, online, that students are actually most frequently bullied, both in traditional forms of aggression as well as through cyber-bullying, for three primary reasons: body image or appearance; school grades or marks; and cultural background and race.
woodcarver
1 year ago
Bullying
First step should be to buy the kids season tickets for the NHL so they can witness first hand the most effective way to bully.( and get paid for it)
They will learn that bullying pays off with nightly examples shown ,courtesy of the CBC and the ultimate accolade of the finer points of violence reserved for special screening on their own merits.
Secondly have them study the hockey fans terrorising innocent shop workers as they invade and loot stores and have yet to face ANY meaningful consequences despite the opportunistic promises of our pseudo premier....................
Next let them study the actions of the RCMP over the last few years ,show how they welcome new immigrants ,shoot unarmed citizens ,beat up newspaper vendors ,all with the full approval of senior officers who cover up with impunity.
It is a red herring to categorise groups by a letter code and assume they are a special case ( how does one get on this ever lengthening list?)
As a previous writer remarked ALL bullying is bad, a punch in the mouth or a hurtful comment is equally harmful whatever your sexual orientation..............
freebear
1 year ago
What about adult bullies Christy?
Like some of your MLA colleagues!
Or business supporters!
Or professional atheletes!
Or peoples' bosses/co-workers!
And so on....
Bounder
1 year ago
What A Dilemma
I am a retired educator having spent 35 years in education and have to say I am happy to be out of the business. Here we have proposed legislation to address one of the more serious problems in education (bullying) proposed by a government that is noted for its bullying looking for support from the BCTF which has become noted for bullying both parents and students. The proposal is doomed to failure. The losers of course are the students.