Did you witness or experience hate, discrimination, bullying or harassment?
Here’s who you can talk to:
- Your principal, guidance counselor, teacher or a trusted adult
- Safe Schools Anonymous Reporting Tool
- Office of the Human Rights and Equity Advisor
- Community supports and resources
No one deserves to experience hate.
And yet, we know too many members of our OCDSB community have faced bias, hate, discrimination, harassment or bullying.
There are various types of hate related to race, religion/creed, background, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ability, income or the intersection of multiple identities.
Acts of hate can come in many forms, online and off. It can include violence, intimidation, the use of symbols or slogans, or acts referred to as “microagressions” that leave lasting harm.
Ensuring all students feel safe and a sense of belonging at school is a precondition for learning. Preventing and promptly addressing hate and discrimination is fundamental to building a safe and caring climate in our schools and beyond.
Below is information on how our staff work to address incidents of hate in schools.
However, it’s important everyone acts together to protect all members of our community. If you witness hate, discrimination or bullying, remember that you are not powerless. Learn more about what students and parents/caregivers can do to help others.
How we respond to hate in schools
At the OCDSB, we have developed an “Anti-Hate Toolkit” for staff. This includes a series of training materials and modules to help all staff and administrators prevent, interrupt and respond to hate in schools. It is used to address all forms of hate and create a safe and respectful environment in our schools.
Our protocol takes a student-centered, learning and corrective approach. The goal is to educate students rather than shame them into changing their behaviour. We believe that when students learn about the impact of their actions and the harm it can cause, there is a better chance the behaviour will not be repeated. At the same time, we also want to inspire others to stop hate and discrimination.
Below is a brief summary of the key actions.
Guiding Principles:
- Focus on limiting harm to those hurt.
- Lead with empathy and curiosity, not shame.
- Address every situation. Being silent sends a message that this is accepted and is being condoned.
- Prevent and repair harm.
- All OCDSB staff have an obligation to disrupt, educate, support and report to administration every incident of hate.
All employees who work directly with students have an obligation to respond immediately to hate-related behaviour, which is outlined in policies and procedures including our human rights policy and code of conduct.
Our approach:
- Interrupt to stop the harmful language/actions.
- Name what you saw or heard (don’t repeat the slur, pejorative term) and indicate that hurtful comments like that have no place in our school. For example:
- “Let’s keep our language respectful”
- “That comment is harmful to people who identify as….”
- “That comment is racist. In this school and all OCDSB schools that word is not allowed to be used”, etc.
Check in with the student who has been harmed, ensure their immediate safety and ask how you can support them (e.g. “I just heard that. Are you okay? I’m sorry this has happened.”)
- Question the student who caused the harm: “Help me understand what is going on here. What did you mean by that statement?”
- Communicate clearly so those who heard the comment can hear your response.
- Explain why the behaviour is harmful (e.g. “That slur is extremely painful and damaging to members of the ____ community and not allowed here.”) When addressing the use of slurs with students within an affinity group, staff are expected to intervene and explain to students that despite how students may view the use of such terms, they are prohibited on school property. Educative responses should be considered in cases like this.
- Direct the student to change their behaviour now and in future.
- Inform them that the incident will be reported to the administration.
- Check in privately with the student who was harmed soon afterwards. See what you can do to help them.
- Assure them that you are taking this seriously, that you are reporting it to the administration and that the administration will follow up.
- Check in and support any student who may have witnessed the harmful behaviour and may be particularly affected (i.e. a similar identity as the student harmed).
- Report the incident to the administration, indicating what happened and who was involved. Document the incident.
- Speak with affected supervisors based on discussion with administration.
Principals/Vice-Principals will investigate the situation and determine the appropriate response in consultation with their superintendent and other OCDSB staff (i.e. human rights advisor, equity staff, mental health, etc).
The administrator has a responsibility to inform both the student who caused the harm and the individual affected.
- Student who caused harm: The student(s) and their parent/caregiver will be informed about what action will be taken in response and what support will be provided to the student to educate and prevent this behaviour.
- Student who was harmed: The student(s) and their parent/caregiver will be informed about:
- Steps we are taking to keep their child safe (e.g. preventive and corrective strategies for safety).
- Support we will provide to the student (e.g. counselling, identity-based support).
- The nature of the disciplinary measures taken (i.e. we would tell them that the student who caused the harm has been suspended, but not share their name).
- When the student who was suspended or excluded will be returning to school.