Violence Against Educators in P.E.I. Surges, Workers Demand Action

A recent national survey has revealed alarming statistics regarding violence against education workers in Canada, with nearly 80 percent of the 4,000 respondents reporting that workplace violence negatively affects their mental health. This statistic comes as no surprise to some educators in Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), where increasing incidents of violence and staffing challenges have raised significant concerns.

Coleen Jackson, president of CUPE Local 3260, which represents provincial education workers, highlighted that there are currently more resignations than retirements among school support staff. She attributed this trend to various factors such as violent incidents, excessive workloads, and inadequate pay. “The number of incident reports that we see is astounding,” Jackson stated. “It actually equates to several other provinces across the country. We’re very small, so that’s concerning.”

A survey conducted among members of the P.E.I. Teachers Federation in 2021 found that 7 percent of education workers had experienced some form of violence. By 2024, that figure had increased to a staggering 22 percent. Andy Doran, president of the federation, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “That’s not who witnessed it. That’s who actually experienced violence in the classroom,” noting that this encompasses all grades from kindergarten to Grade 12.

Doran expressed concern over the underreporting of violent incidents, suggesting that many occurrences go unregistered. He called for a more robust tracking system to better understand and address the issue.

Government Response to Rising Violence

In light of these findings, Robin Croucher, P.E.I. Education and Early Years Minister, acknowledged that the survey results did not come as a surprise. Croucher shared that he has heard firsthand accounts of the challenges educators face, including violence, and affirmed that the government is “pulling every lever” to create meaningful change. “No educator or school staff should have to endure some of what they’re enduring in our system,” he remarked. “Their jobs are difficult enough day-to-day without having that added to it.”

Croucher mentioned ongoing efforts with both of P.E.I.’s school authorities to enhance the reporting process and establish clear protocols for responding to incidents of violence. “If we’re going to be able to measure any success that we have in moving the needle in the right direction on this and making our school environment safer for our educators, we need to have that data,” he added.

The survey also revealed that 52 percent of respondents indicated they would leave the education field if they could find an alternative job with comparable pay. Jackson noted that the educational system in P.E.I. is already strained and often short-staffed. This situation sometimes forces remaining workers to take on additional students requiring support.

Despite these challenges, many educators remain committed to their roles, driven by their passion for teaching and their dedication to the students. “We love what we do,” Jackson said, underscoring the shared understanding between educators and the government that there is a pressing issue at hand. “We really want to get down to a solution.”

As the situation evolves, the focus remains on addressing the root causes of violence in schools and ensuring a safe and supportive environment for both educators and students.