Less suspensions, more support; Ontario implements ban on suspensions Grade 3 and below

BY PAUL JUNOR

The Ministry of Education announced in a press release on Thursday July 9^th, 2020 that it would implement a ban on suspensions for kids from junior kindergarten to Grade 3 pending passage of Bill 197 on Tuesday, July 21^st, 2020.

The press release states that the government plans to get rid of discretionary suspension for students along with other changes. Premier Doug Ford stated in the press release, “To help our young people reach their full potential, we have to start earlier to create equal opportunity for them, whether that’s reforming suspensions for primary grades or ending the practice of streaming for Grade 9 students.”

There has been much concerns expressed by the African-Canadian community with respect to the high percentage of Afro-Caribbean students being suspended, especially since the influx of West Indians in the 1960s and 1980s. OPBC (founded in 1980) expressed concerns about suspensions in a report by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released in 2003.

There were many reports that came out that showed significant community concern. The Stephen Lewis report released in 1992 was one of the first to highlight the pervasiveness of anti-black racism in Ontario. It was the Scarborough Board of Education that implemented a Safe Schools Policy on Violence and Weapons in 1993, which was the catalyst of official zero tolerance policy in Canada.

Concerns were expressed about its adverse effects on African-Canadian students (as reported in a Toronto Star on March 20, 1994, Paul Irish).”Probe of black legal issues slams school violence policy.” It showed that black students were unfairly targeted and suspended.

In a fact sheet on Black Student Achievement from 5679, TDSB students who were surveyed between 2006-2011, found that 42% of African students were suspended at least once compared to 18% of white students (Black Demographic Data Advisory Committee). They are thus two times more likely to be suspended than whites at least once during high school.

CBC News on July 6^th referenced a 2017 study by Carl James which revealed that 42% of total black students in Toronto, York, Peel and Durham school boards were suspended at least one time before they graduate from school. In fact, in the school year 2018-2019, there were 65,000 elementary and secondary students were suspended in Ontario.

Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) in a memo on Monday, July 20^th, 2020, expressed concerns about changes to the policy in regards to suspensions of elementary students. It stated, “There are no details about how the government or school boards would address the issues that lead to suspensions, nor do they offer alternatives or support for school administrative to utilize.” OSSTF is pressing the Ministry of Education to release much more details.

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) which represents

83,000 education workers made a statement, “ETFO agrees that suspensions have disproportionately affected black students compared to their white peers as well as students with unique learning needs. Getting rid of suspensions deals with a symptom but does not address the underlying problem, which is a lack of supports and resources for students. And the on-going issue of violent incidents by students with behavioural issues requires urgent attention in order to protect the health and safety of all students and staff.”

In an interview with Karen Campbell, the first African-Canadian Vice-President in ETFO history, she expressed concerns about seeking a balance between changes to the disciplinary regulations and ensuring that students who need help are able to get to. She maintains that the Ministry of Education has to commit to helping families and students by providing them with mental and psychological  support. In a press release on Tuesday, July 21^st, 2020

ETFO states, “We need a balanced approach to suspensions through a meaningful consultations with all stakeholders and include discussions on the allocation of appropriate resources.”