This text is part of the special Back to School notebook
The Federation of School Service Centers of Quebec has made the fight against violence its priority.
Some teens who are victims of bullying and/or cyberbullying see college as an oasis of peace… and they are not wrong. According to a survey by the Institut de la statistique du Québec on social relationships in the school, work and community context conducted in 2022, the largest proportion of young people who have experienced bullying are in primary or secondary schools (27.9%), and much less in CEGEPs (7.6%). At university, the decrease is even more marked: 3.4%.
Quebec schools are not immune to the turmoil of society. Both places of learning and safety nets, they are sometimes large meshes, and certain tragedies shake up this idyllic image. The suicide of a teenager from Gaspésie in December 2011 forced the Quebec government to adopt Bill 56 in June 2012 to combat bullying and violence in schools.
Twelve years later, after a pandemic, the situation is not bright and is forcing Bernard Drainville, Minister of Education, to recognize it… and to act. Will his Plan to Prevent Violence and Bullying in Schools, presented in October 2023 and with a budget of $30 million over five years, have a concrete impact?
Caroline Dupré, President and CEO of the Fédération des centres de services scolaires du Québec (FCSSQ), believes this deeply, “as long as everyone works together.” Thirty years of career in the education sector as a teacher and school principal have not diminished her enthusiasm, but she notes that the climate has changed.
“When I was a teacher, there were interventions, but no awareness-raising,” recalls the woman who also held the position of director of the Saint-Hyacinthe School Services Centre. “It now occupies a prominent place, because the phenomenon goes beyond the walls of the school: if you knew what we see and hear in the arenas, including comments from parents…”
These realities are visible, but not always well documented, while the 2012 plan recalled the importance of collecting this data. “Naming things leads to greater awareness,” emphasizes Caroline Dupré. And that involves compiling information, which schools did, but each one differently. We now have a single dashboard.” As if that were not enough, in addition to the suffering of children experiencing racism or homophobia, there is also that of staff. The Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail found that the number of employees in the education system who are victims of violence has increased by 20% over the past five years.
Raise awareness and take action
Increased awareness will certainly help calm the climate, but Steve Audet, associate professor at the UQAM School of Social Work, does not believe that “all bullying problems can be resolved through mediation.” “It’s good to offer support to the victim,” says the man who is also a psychotherapist, “but it takes adults who dictate rules… and apply them. A climate of permissiveness, parents who torpedo the authority of principals and teachers, does nothing to help resolve conflicts.”
In an open letter published on August 3 in The DutySteve Audet writes that he doesn’t believe that “alleviating the symptoms” will help victims… and bullies. In an interview, he points out that “many adults express their distress and helplessness to me, but no one seems capable of confronting the problem. Children need a framework and test the limits to develop their autonomy. If the rules change all the time and are not respected, it’s obvious that the situation will continue.” Hence the importance of sending a clear message… and taking action accordingly, he maintains.
A first week of violence and bullying prevention is planned for March 2025 in Quebec schools, but Caroline Dupré does not intend to sit idly by until then. Because while some claim that the school system has other challenges to address, this one remains a priority. “As an educator, I have witnessed the direct link between bullying and young people’s ability to learn. When there is fear and anxiety, it is impossible to talk about educational success,” says the FCSSQ’s executive director.
This content was produced by the Special Publications Team of Dutyrelevant to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part in it.