A teacher at Tomken Road Middle School in Mississauga, ON, is raising alarms about the state of crisis at his school. ."I have verified the existence and identity of its author and its authenticity," said former Ontario lawyer R. Michael Teper in a tweet. ."@trusteemcdonald, @peelschools, @pdsbdirector — Thoughts?" .The anonymous teacher starts off the statement by saying throughout the school year, staff have been faced with countless unsafe interactions on a daily basis. .“The climate of our school is one of violence, fear, and is well on its way to being one of long-lasting trauma for many students," said the teacher. ."We write this letter as a desperate call for help to make changes to our learning environment in order to make it the safe place it once was." .The statement went on to say it has become impossible to maintain any sense of dignity at the school. It said students have shown they are unwilling to uphold any type of decency towards staff and each other. .Some examples the statement cites include students defecating on the floors of washrooms and rubbing their feces on the wall. It said they have run through hallways doing activities such as playing baseball and throwing water at each other. .There are students who vandalize washrooms and write hateful speech about teachers targeting their ethnicity. They leave school property during class time to grab food at the nearest plaza. .The statement alleged some students open random doors at the school and throw metal door stoppers, food, or drinks at others sitting in class. It added they have no sense of physical boundaries with teachers, coming up behind them and yelling in their ears or blowing on their faces. .Every door at the school has been locked, and windows are covered up. The teacher said there is “nothing left of our community except a shared hope that this will be fixed.” .While staff have reached out for help, the statement said they have exhausted all methods they are trained to use. No suspensions or expulsions have been made. .It said there are no consequences other than restorative conversations with students and the parents willing to show up. Staff pleaded with administration to receive some help or type of direction. .When they arranged a meeting with the superintendent, he did not show up and said he forgot. It said no one wants to intervene, and staff can understand why. .As staff, they are looking to reinstate some type of structure at the school. They are seeking consequences for misbehaviour. .The teacher concluded by saying staff intend "to make school a safe place for students and their well-being." .“Our school no longer serves as a place of learning and community,” said the teacher. .The Peel District School Board (PDSB) said it was aware of the statement circulating on social media and would be investigating the matter. .The PDSB said the superintendent was made aware and was at the school facilitating a series of scheduled meetings with staff. It confirmed there have been investigations initiated regarding incidents alleged in the letter, and the superintendent has attended the school to support the community through official board processes to date. .It has enacted various safety measures to ensure its students, their families, and staff are safe in the environments of each of its 259 schools. Schools implement a wide variety of strategies to ensure students remain in class and engaged in their academics. .“The board has recently updated the school code of conduct,” it said. .“Through Policy 48, extensive Safe and Caring Schools training, and the recent Operating Procedure on Student Progressive Discipline and the Code of Conduct, staff are better able to characterize behaviour through an anti-racist, anti-oppressive approach.”
A teacher at Tomken Road Middle School in Mississauga, ON, is raising alarms about the state of crisis at his school. ."I have verified the existence and identity of its author and its authenticity," said former Ontario lawyer R. Michael Teper in a tweet. ."@trusteemcdonald, @peelschools, @pdsbdirector — Thoughts?" .The anonymous teacher starts off the statement by saying throughout the school year, staff have been faced with countless unsafe interactions on a daily basis. .“The climate of our school is one of violence, fear, and is well on its way to being one of long-lasting trauma for many students," said the teacher. ."We write this letter as a desperate call for help to make changes to our learning environment in order to make it the safe place it once was." .The statement went on to say it has become impossible to maintain any sense of dignity at the school. It said students have shown they are unwilling to uphold any type of decency towards staff and each other. .Some examples the statement cites include students defecating on the floors of washrooms and rubbing their feces on the wall. It said they have run through hallways doing activities such as playing baseball and throwing water at each other. .There are students who vandalize washrooms and write hateful speech about teachers targeting their ethnicity. They leave school property during class time to grab food at the nearest plaza. .The statement alleged some students open random doors at the school and throw metal door stoppers, food, or drinks at others sitting in class. It added they have no sense of physical boundaries with teachers, coming up behind them and yelling in their ears or blowing on their faces. .Every door at the school has been locked, and windows are covered up. The teacher said there is “nothing left of our community except a shared hope that this will be fixed.” .While staff have reached out for help, the statement said they have exhausted all methods they are trained to use. No suspensions or expulsions have been made. .It said there are no consequences other than restorative conversations with students and the parents willing to show up. Staff pleaded with administration to receive some help or type of direction. .When they arranged a meeting with the superintendent, he did not show up and said he forgot. It said no one wants to intervene, and staff can understand why. .As staff, they are looking to reinstate some type of structure at the school. They are seeking consequences for misbehaviour. .The teacher concluded by saying staff intend "to make school a safe place for students and their well-being." .“Our school no longer serves as a place of learning and community,” said the teacher. .The Peel District School Board (PDSB) said it was aware of the statement circulating on social media and would be investigating the matter. .The PDSB said the superintendent was made aware and was at the school facilitating a series of scheduled meetings with staff. It confirmed there have been investigations initiated regarding incidents alleged in the letter, and the superintendent has attended the school to support the community through official board processes to date. .It has enacted various safety measures to ensure its students, their families, and staff are safe in the environments of each of its 259 schools. Schools implement a wide variety of strategies to ensure students remain in class and engaged in their academics. .“The board has recently updated the school code of conduct,” it said. .“Through Policy 48, extensive Safe and Caring Schools training, and the recent Operating Procedure on Student Progressive Discipline and the Code of Conduct, staff are better able to characterize behaviour through an anti-racist, anti-oppressive approach.”