Vol. 17, Spring 2002 at Pg
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SCHOOL COMMUNITY SAFETY ADVISORY PANEL Acknowledgements To the family of Jordan Manners, the School Community Safety Advisory Panel expresses its deepest sympathies on the tragic and violent loss of a young life. No loss can be greater to a family than one of its youngest members. To the students who spoke to the Panel or completed a survey, we extend our appreciation for your honesty and candour about school life. You are the first and foremost among the consultees. To the school administrators, teachers and support staff throughout the Toronto District School Board who came forward to either meet with the Panel or complete a survey, our thanks are extended to each of you as individuals and to the professional associations and unions who represent you. To the Special and Alternative Program staff, central staff and senior administration of the Toronto District School Board, the Panel extends appreciation for the invaluable perspectives you offered. The Panel wishes to particularly thank Director Gerry Connelly, Executive Officer Lloyd McKell, System Superintendent Donna Quan and Legal Counsel Grant Bowers for their tireless efforts and patience in accommodating the many requests and needs of the Panel. To the parents and guardians, School Councils and community agencies, we could not have done our job without your input. To the Trustees of the Toronto District School Board, thank you for being vigorous in your advocacy for students and youth through public service. The Panel wishes to particularly thank the Trustee Liaison Committee, and in particular Trustee Sheila Ward (former Chair), Trustee Stephnie Payne, Trustee Cathy Dandy, and Trustee Mari Rutka for their active support and liaison with the Panel. To our external consultants, your broad vision was invaluable. To the staff from the Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre – Early Years Centre, we thank you for organizing and delivering child care and interpreter services for the two “Community Consultation” days. Your contributions of warm hospitality and greetings at registration were sincerely appreciated. We acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Dr. Kathleen Gallagher (Ph.D., Associate Professor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto, Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning) and Dr. Jeff Kugler (Executive Director of the Centre for Urban Schooling at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the ii University of Toronto). Many thanks to OISE Dean, Dr. Jane Gaskell, for use of OISE space for the Barriers to Change Symposium. Finally, many thanks to Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall and her team at the Ontario Human Rights Commission, whose collaboration in the convening of the Symposium on Barriers to Change was essential for its successful outcome. iii SCHOOL COMMUNITY SAFETY ADVISORY PANEL THE TEAM The Panel Panel Chair: JULIAN N. FALCONER, B.A., LL.B Panel Member: PEGGY EDWARDS – B.A./B.S.W., M.S.W. Panel Member: LINDA MacKINNON – M.Ed., B.Ed. Panel Support Julian Roy (LL.B.), Senior Advisor and Witness Consultation Manager (Falconer Charney LLP) Dr. Scot Wortley (Ph.D), Chief Academic (Associate Professor, University of Toronto, Centre of Criminology) (See Appendix P for short biography) Paul B. Schabas (LL.B.), Outside Counsel to the Panel (Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP) Sunil Mathai (LL.B), Research and Drafting Support (Falconer Charney LLP) Jackie Esmonde (LL.B., M.A.), Research and Drafting Support (Falconer Charney LLP) Dania Majid (LL.B.), Research and Drafting Support Andrea McCalla (Ph.D. Candidate), Academic Team (University of Toronto, Centre of Criminology) Zachary Levinsky (Ph.D. Candidate), Academic Team (University of Toronto, Centre of Criminology) Stephanie Turcotte (M.A.), Academic Team (University of Toronto, Centre of Criminology) George Argyropolous, Support Staff (Falconer Charney LLP) Amy Chow, Support Staff (Falconer Charney LLP) Odi Dashsambuu, Support Staff (Falconer Charney LLP) Pat Muscat, Support Staff (Falconer Charney LLP) iv Sandy Palhinha, Support Staff (Full-Time SCSAP Staff) External Consultants: Zanana Akande (Retired Principal & Consultant, Former Provincial Cabinet Minister, Community Advocate) Suzan E. Fraser (LL.B., Fraser Advocacy) Roger Rowe (LL.B., Roger Rowe Law Offices) Volunteers: Nesta Blake (Early Years Supervisor) and staff and volunteers at the Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre. Marie Blanchard (Retired Literacy Teacher), Proofreading Maurice Stephens, Graphics Design and Layout Sandra Taylor, Photographer v THE ROAD TO HEALTH: A FINAL REPORT ON SCHOOL SAFETY Table of Contents VOLUME 1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................. page 1 1.01 The Panel’s Terms of Reference…………………………………...page 4 1.02 The Panel’s Work and Methodology………………………………page 5 1.03 Overview of the Report……………………………………………..page 7 CHAPTER 2 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW………………………………….page 11 2.01 Bill 21 and PPM 119…………………………………………………page 11 2.02 The Royal Commission on Learning……………………………….page 12 2.03 The Anti-Racism, Equity, and Access Department Dismantled………………………..page 13 2.04 Amalgamation……………………………………………………......page 14 2.05 Teachers and Trustees Under Siege………………………………...page 16 2.06 Funding Cuts to the Board………………………………………......page 19 2.07 The Equity Foundation Statement………………………………….page 22 2.08 Zero Tolerance in Ontario – the Safe Schools Act Amendments……………………..........page 24 2.09 Safe and Compassionate Schools Task Force Report……………...page 27 2.10 Safe and Compassionate Schools Work Group……………….........page 27 2.11 Ontario Human Rights Commission Settlement with the TDSB and the Province……………………….........page 28 2.12 Conclusion……………………………………………………….........page 32 vi CHAPTER 3 A CURRENT HEALTH CHECK................................page 33 3.01 The Shooting Death of Jordan Manners………………………....................page 33 3.02 A Health Check of C.W. Jefferys C.I………………………………..page 36 A. Survey of Student Perspectives at C.W. Jefferys C.I……………...page 37 3.02.01 Introduction…………………………………………………………….page 37 3.02.02 Methodology…………………………………………………………....page 38 3.02.03 Sample Description……………………………………………………..page 39 3.02.04 Perception of Neighbourhood Crime…………………………………...page 40 3.02.05 Racial Differences in Student Backgrounds…………………………….page 40 3.02.06 Student Perceptions of Problems at School…………………………….page 44 3.02.07 Student Feelings About School Safety…………………………………..page 57 3.02.08 Student Victimization................................................................................page 68 3.02.09 Most Serious Victimization Experience………………………………....page 83 3.02.10 Witnessing Crime………………………………………………………..page 91 3.02.11 Improving School Safety………………………………………………...page 93 3.02.12 Perceptions of Racism and Social Injustice……………………………..page 99 3.02.13 Student Comments……………………………………………………….page 104 3.02.14 Conclusions……………………………………………………………...page 105 B. Survey of Teacher and Staff Perspectives at C.W. Jefferys.............page 107 3.02.15 Problems at School……………………………………………………...page 111 3.02.16 Staff Perceptions of Safety………………………………………………page 123 3.02.17 Staff Victimization……………………………………………………….page 135 3.02.18 Witnessing Crime and Student Misbehaviour…………………………...page 139 3.02.19 Staff Perceptions of School Safety Strategies…………………………...page 146 3.02.20 Staff Perceptions of Appropriate Punishments………………………….page 155 3.02.21 Job Satisfaction………………………………………………………….page 162 3.02.22 Discussion……………………………………………………………….page 165 vii VOLUME 2 3.03 A Health Check at Westview Centennial Secondary School………..page 166 3.03.01 Background on Westview……………………………………………….page 167 3.03.02 Supports for Westview Students………………………………………...page 168 3.03.03 Weapons in the School………………………………………………….page 175 3.03.04 Sexual Violence…………………………………………………………page 177 3.03.05 Gangs……………………………………………………………………page 178 3.03.06 Suspensions and Discipline……………………………………………..page 180 3.03.07 Building Security………………………………………………………..page 183 3.03.08 Conclusion………………………………………………………………page 185 3.03.09 Surveys of Westview School Community……………………………….page 186 A. Survey of Students from Westview Secondary School……………page 186 B. Survey of Staff and Teachers at Westview………………………...page 302 3.04 Safety Issues are City-Wide…………………………………………..page 348 VOLUME 3 3.05 Gender and School Safety…………………………………………….page 371 3.05.01 Introduction…………………………………………………………….page 371 3.05.02 The Prevalence of Gender-Based Violence in Schools…………………page 374 3.05.03 Responding to Incidents of Gender-Based Violence in Schools………..page 382 3.05.04 Preventing Gendered-Based Violence in Schools....................................page 397 3.05.05 Conclusion………………………………………………………………page 411 viii 3.06 School Safety Issues Across the Board……………………………….page 412 3.06.01 Barriers to Reporting……………………………………………………page 413 3.06.02 Tracking Safety………………………………………………………….page 428 3.06.03 Renewal: Creating a Positive Bond Between Students and Teachers…..page 433 3.06.04 Lack of Youth Activities………………………………………………….page 459 3.06.05 Funding Formula………………………………………………………..page 463 3.06.06 Trustee Governance……………………………………………………..page 472 3.06.07 Disciplinary Measures in Schools……………………………………….page 477 3.06.08 Detection and Deterrence……………………………………………….page 505 3.06.09 Support Services for Student Success……………………………………page 517 3.07 Aboriginal Education in the Toronto District School Board..………page 523 3.07.01 The “Achievement” Gap…………………………………………………page 523 3.07.02 Aboriginal Education at the TDSB………………………………………page 525 3.07.03 First Nations School