July 9, 2018, News Wire: Lack of resources and supports for students among key factors behind increased rates of violence towards teachers https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/lack-of-resources-and-supports-for-students-among-key-factors-behind-increased-rates-of-violence-towards-teachers-687675241.html EDMONTON, July 9, 2018 /CNW/ - According to a national study conducted by the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF), the growing number of violent – and underreported -- incidents towards teachers is often linked to a lack of critical resources and supports for students in schools.... "Today's teachers are faced with many challenges, including teaching to increasingly complex classrooms, encompassing diverse cultural, academic, behavioral and social skill sets and backgrounds," explains CTF President H. Mark Ramsankar. "They require educational support and resources such as assistants, psychologists, psychiatrists and other professionals to support their students' learning experiences. "According to studies, a child's feelings of abandonment in which his/her educational, social and emotional needs are not being met may lead to violent outbursts," adds Ramsankar. "And that violence against teachers is taking a toll on educators' mental and physical well-being as well as their self-worth as professionals." The CTF research points to some of the drivers behind the increased rates of violence: widespread underfunding for public education; lack of resources and supports for addressing violence against teachers (including in-service supports and training), and serious inadequacies in services and supports for student mental health, behavioural, and special education needs. Other key findings: Rates of violence experienced by teachers are very high; ranging from 41% to 90% of surveyed teachers in jurisdictions across Canada. A significant majority of teachers (>70%), when surveyed, also report that both rates and severity of violence in schools are increasing. Rates of violence experienced by teachers tended to be higher for teachers who are: 1) women, 2) working in elementary schools, 3) working in schools in lower socioeconomic status locations and/or large metropolitan areas, and 4) working as special education teachers. Non-physical (verbal/emotional) violence is the most frequently reported type of violence experienced by educators, followed by physical violence. Students are the perpetrators of this violence in a very large majority (typically over 90%) of reported incidents. Violence directed towards teachers has a strong, negative impact on teacher well-being, is associated with increased rates of depression in teachers, may lead to teacher burnout, changing schools, and/or leaving the profession. In addition, teachers may also experience physical health symptoms, including physical injury, headaches, and fatigue. While a large majority of teachers experience and/or witness some form of violence in their schools, research confirms that there is significant underreporting of violence to school administrators and/or police….
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Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
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