London Anti-Bullying Coalition responds to the results of the TVDSB "Environment of Safety in our Schools" survey (Grades 4-8).

On Tuesday, April 4, 2006 the TVDSB announced the results of the Elementary Grades (4-8) Safe School Survey.

The LABC attended this presentation and have the following comments:

We are extremely pleased that the survey is now complete. The creation of a solid baseline of information is essential to monitoring progress as we move forward. The survey provides a "snap shot" of our current status as safe, caring schools and highlights areas where improvements must be made.

Not surprisingly the results are very similar to the high school survey completed last year. The students reported similar rates of occurrence and had many of the same lo-cost, no-cost solutions.

The students want:

• To See that there are consequences for the bully
• Consequences for bullying
• Improved skills to deal with bullying
• An understanding of the harm caused by bullying
• A trusted staff member to talk to
• Increased supervision at school by school staff

The survey showed the following results (based on 26,024 respondents)

• 5,465 children are verbally bullied daily or weekly
• 2,602 children are physically bullied daily or weekly
• 3,903 children are socially bullied daily or weekly
• 1,301 children are sexually bullied daily or weekly

Keep in mind that these numbers only represent four grades and one school board. These figures are totally unacceptable. These numbers would not be tolerated in the workplace so why are they tolerated as part of our children’s school experience?

We felt uneasy to note that those who reported "seldom" as their experience with bullying were captured for survey purposes in with those that reported "never". Try telling the 3,122 young people who reported that they had been sexually bullied "seldom" that their experiences counted as "never".

As with the high school survey, individual reports on a school by school basis will be available, hopefully by months end, and we strongly encourage parents to ask for their children’s school "report card". We also encourage parents to engage with their schools and become part of the solution.

The survey and correlated data can be found at http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/safeschools/

With the upcoming elections we also want to encourage parents to make themselves aware, learn about those running for trustees and make informed election choices.

Corina Morrison

Kathryn Wilkins

Co-founders

London Anti-Bullying Coalition

126 Queen Anne Circle

London, Ontario

N6H 4B7

519-473-5214