Simcoe Reformer: Bites. Bruises. Tears: What Unions Are Saying About the Growing Violence in Schools

Union presidents Sarah Kuva, Steph Scott, Carolyn Proulx-Wootton and Amanda Baxter delivered postcards to GEDSB trustees in May, voicing some of the challenges their members face as elementary educators with the board. PHOTO BY SUBMITTED /Carolyn Proulx-Wootton

(Via the Simcoe Reformer) – Educators crying in their cars, trying to convince themselves they can get through another day. Bite marks, bruises, and the daily fear of violence from the elementary students they teach.

These were a few of the challenges handwritten on postcards delivered to the Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB) by the presidents of four unions representing Brant-area education staff.

The representatives hoped the words would inspire the board to allocate some of its $11.1 million budget surplus to support staff.

None of the stories came as a surprise to the union heads from CUPE 5100, ETFO Occasional Teacher Local, ETFO DECE Local and ETFO Teacher Local, who represent more than 2,800 education workers in GEDSB elementary schools.

Still, reading through the challenges of local education workers was “devastating,” said  Amanda Baxter, president of the GEDSB Elementary Occasional Teacher Local.