This didn’t happen when I was in school!

Why is there an increase in violence? Many parents remember a time when classrooms felt different. A big part of the answer lies in the reduction of per-student funding over the years. This has meant a decrease in supports for students with special needs, larger class sizes, and long waitlists for assistance with learning challenges. Mental health supports are also backlogged, leaving kids struggling without help until they reach a crisis point.

Times are tough, and kids feel it too. The rising cost of living is adding stress and children are also carrying that weight with them. When kids are anxious, overwhelmed, or struggling, it can affect their ability to learn and regulate their emotions. Their behaviour is often a reflection of what they’re experiencing, a way of communicating that they need support.

Staff in schools are doing everything they can to support students, but the current situation is unsustainable. The lack of funding and reduction in supports has left classrooms in chaos. Kids are crying out for help. We need a government who hears them.