The Montreal Association of School Directions (AMDES) has expressed concern about the rise in violence among young people in Montreal and believes that more support is needed for community organizations that set up prevention activities. education and reintegration.
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“When such events occur, the directors, together with the school service centers, put in place the resources to support young people as well as teachers and staff. This supportive approach has proven itself, but we consider that it is urgent to act in prevention to prevent such tragedies from happening again ”, declared in a press release the president of AMDES, Kathleen Legault, by reacting to the murder of a 16-year-old teenager on Sunday in the Saint-Michel district.
AMDES is therefore calling for the establishment of a consultation on the scale of the Island of Montreal bringing together all the stakeholders concerned in order to create “an effective prevention plan that takes into account the particularities of the field”.
For AMDES, support for community organizations that set up prevention, education and reintegration activities is essential.
The association also believes that the police services must adopt a community and collaborative approach, with, among other things, the addition of socio-community agents “who naturally enhance the bonds of trust with young people and the community”.
“We must deplore the fact that for several years, the police officers who were assigned to schools have been less present in favor of other mandates that have been entrusted to them. We must rediscover the collaboration that existed and, if necessary, increase and extend it systematically to community organizations that do essential work, ”added the President of AMDES.
Gun control
AMDES is also calling for government intervention to control firearms both their entry into Canadian soil and their circulation, and punitive measures related to possession and trafficking.
“Please, that governments do not wait for other tragedies to legislate. At the same time, let’s get to work together to deploy a concerted and structuring violence prevention plan in Montreal. As front-line workers, school administrators wish to be involved in the reflection and consulted, ”indicated Mr.me Legault.