‘ALARMING’ NEW SURVEY FINDS NEARLY 80% OF ONTARIO ELEMENTARY TEACHERS EXPERIENCE SCHOOL VIOLENCE, SAYS UNION

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario says 77 per cent of teachers have seen or personally experienced violence in their schools, with those working in special education impacted the most, according to a new survey of its members.

The union held a press conference on Monday to share what it called the “concerning” and “alarming” findings.

“The survey results may shock the public, but they’re not a surprise to ETFO members,” president Karen Brown said of the online survey, which was conducted in February and March by Strategic Communications Inc.

More than 40 per cent of those who took part in the survey said physical force has been used against them, and more than half said an attempt of physical force was made against them, or a threat of it.