Half of Quebec teachers experienced violence since start of school year: survey

One in two teachers in Quebec — or 52 per cent — have experienced violence since the start of the school year, this according to a survey conducted by the Fédération des syndicats de l’enseignement (FSE-CSQ).

In 93 per cent of the cases, students are the perpetrators of the violence.

According to the survey, 84 per cent of teachers said that they experienced verbal violence.

While more common in kindergarten and elementary schools, 46 per cent experienced physical violence.

Among the respondents, 22 per cent noted that they also experienced acts of violence from parents.

“The data from the consultation illustrates the urgency of addressing the violence experienced in our schools, especially in the context of the shortage we are experiencing,” said Richard Bergevin, President of the FSE-CSQ, in a news release on Tuesday.

“With the CSQ, we have put forward solutions, including a guide for dealing with violence in the workplace and an intervention protocol for school staff who are victims of it,” he added.

“We are working with the Ministry to ensure that new measures are put in place for the next school year, while we expect the necessary resources to be available.”

Conducted in April, over 7,300 teachers participated in the survey.