WATCH: Union representing elementary school teachers says violent incidents in schools on the rise. Calling for more mental health supports. pic.twitter.com/67dJA3Kqll
— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) January 17, 2017
The union representing public elementary school teachers in Ontario is calling on the province to increase mental health support for students.
The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario says violent incidents in the classroom have been on the rise because of a "critical lack of support" for students facing behavioural issues.
ETFO president Sam Hammond says supports have been on the decline. He says, for example, some school boards have had to eliminate educational assistants to balance their budget. EAs, he says, are vital for special education students.
The union will be meeting with the province on Wednesday to go over a list of recommendations they have to reduce violence in schools.
"The government must ensure that the necessary funding and resources are there for special education programs," Hammond says.
He says that wait times for support, even just an assessment, are too long, at times up to a year.
"When you don't have an assessment or a support plan for a student in kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, that's extremely problematic."
Hammond says the union has not put together numbers on how much funding should increase.