Safe Schools?

Blog Post #4 - 2016

                                 Image courtesy of THE CANADIAN PRESS

At 8:30am on Tuesday February 23^rd, a 14 year-old female student brandishing two knives injured six students and three faculty members at Dunbarton High School in Pickering, Ontario.

Since the attack, more information has been reported on the mental health of the girl. Tricia Goodchild, an Educational Assistant that worked with the accused, reported that, “Bullying is a huge thing that she had to deal with and I think people should know that was something that could have triggered her. I felt that she was so sad and so depressed. I though that, if anything, she would try to hurt herself. I never thought she would try to hurt other kids,” she said.

 Goodchild also said although the girl reported bullying to school administrators, noting was done to correct it. Instead, even after reporting the bullying, the girl told Godchild, “Nobody believes me.”

            As a result, Goodchild believes the school failed the little girl and could fail others, as well. “Is it really safe at that school? I don’t think so. This happened; it was only a matter of time. There are probably other kids who are also struggling with bullying and other issues,” she said.  

Image courtesy of THE CANADIAN PRESS

We are all aware of many past acts of violence that have been committed at other schools. The impacts of such incidences are felt not only within the community they happen in, but across the world whether any injuries or deaths occur or not.

Schools are intended to be safe communities where members protect and build one another up rather than tear each other down. However, we are all also aware of instances where such communal support is not always the reality. Instead, some individuals are singled out, torn down, and bullied to the point they feel alone in a school full of people and as if they have no one to reach out to for help.

How do you think schools and communities can avoid these acts of school violence in the future?

What services are available to you at Mary Ward that allow you to reach out in the event you or someone you knew was being bullied?

What are some new services you think your school could provide to better help students being bullied in and out of school?