The Commission on Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work (CNESST) has been asked to intervene at a primary school in Rimouski where violent incidents are becoming increasingly common, leaving the union representing supporting staff concerned about staff safety important and students are at risk.
CNESST inspectors are therefore expected at the Grand-Pavois-de-Sainte-Agnès primary school in Rimouski next week to assess the situation and find possible solutions.
“We are asking for outside help to clear this all up. This is my ultimate solution to protect staff and children,” said Marie-Ève Leblanc, President of the Support Staff Union of the Phares School Service Center.
According to the union, the situation has existed for several years, but it clarified that it has worsened since the beginning of the current school year.
During the first six weeks of the 2023-2024 school year, 50 violent incidents were reported by support staff. Last year, 94 incident reports involving physical and verbal violence were filed.
“It is not normal for our children to yell at us, spit on us, pinch us, scratch us, bite us, throw things at us and even [qu’ils dirigent cette violence] towards [autres] Children. […] I think it means burying your head in the sand and telling yourself that it doesn’t exist and that it’s not increasing,” emphasized Ms. Leblanc.
The school service center is aware of the problem
The management of the Phares School Service Center (CSS) mentioned that the problematic situation was known and an action plan had been drawn up.
“We are taking the situation seriously. Actions have been taken and will continue to be so, but these are not changes that will occur in a week. “These are changes that require consultation and communication,” explained Christine Marquis, deputy general director of CSS des Phares.
In her opinion, all options to improve the situation are on the table, including reorganizing work and reassignment. She also specified that the new leadership, which took office on November 27, should ensure more stability. While seven directors and deputy directors have left the company in the last three years.
“We know the team on site is capable, positive and united. People are volunteers, they just want to mobilize. We are not worried that we are moving towards solutions,” Ms. Marquis added.
Quick solutions required
After an incident in early October in which a child attempted to attack another child with a pair of scissors, management committed to implementing a safety protocol. Intervention in cases of violence.
We must act quickly, says the Mitis Region Teachers’ Union (SERM).
“It is very long. “The CSS of the Phares committed to respecting deadlines of a few weeks to draw up intervention protocols in the event of violence and in the end they did not respect these deadlines, it seems that it has been postponed indefinitely”, explained Jean-François Gaumond, President of SERM.
“The most difficult thing about the situation is that we have teachers who no longer believe at all that their employer will protect them,” he concluded.