Making Our Schools Safer

Experience has shown us that young people are interested in learning how to be non-violent. We also know that young people are very involved in affecting change in their communities and have lots to contribute. If we can reach young people with messages, by other young people, that help them to deal with the issues they are struggling with, without causing damage to themselves or others, we all win.

School boards, teachers, principals and parents are working towards understanding school-based violence and finding solutions to prevent violence in schools.1 Discriminatory attitudes and behaviours against girls, gays and lesbians, people of colour, Aboriginal and people with disabled are still prevalent in many schools' classrooms, hallways, playgrounds and locker rooms. Bullying has been recognized as an issue in schools and many schools and community When young people commit a violent act, other youths-in particular male youths- are the victims. 52% of the victims of youth offenders are young people.[1]

In a recent survey, 90% of students want schools to play an active role in raising awareness about violence and promoting alternative conflict resolution strategies.[2]

Testimonial Children's Counseling

YWCA of Calgary

"My daughter, now 4 1/2 years old, is relearning what it is really like to be a child again. Through your children's program, with the help of two very special counselors, Terrance and Stephanie, she has gone from being a very withdrawn, angry, physical child, to one who is learning to set healthy boundaries for herself. She is learning which behaviours are appropriate and inappropriate, and that she is not responsible for making anyone else happy, other than herself. Also, if something doesn't feel ok, it is fine to speak up about it, without resorting to kicking, screaming, punching or breaking things. How amazed, and sad I felt, the day she finally told me, that she was trying to protect me and keep me safe from her Daddy. She was barely four at the time. It was then that I realized what an impact everything had been on her. How do I begin to say "thank you" for giving my daughter her life back?"

Resources

A number of organizations who produce resources and facilitate workshops for youth:

S.W.O.V.A. (Saltspring Women Opposed to Violence and Abuse) offers youth-led violence education resources and prevention programs. Contact them at www.saltspring.com or Tel/Fax: (250) 537-1336.
SafeTeen offers specific programs for girls, boys and preteens in B.C. Tel: (604) 255-5147
YouCAN! specializes in conflict resolution training for young people. Tel: 613-230-1903 or Toll free: 1-888-496-8226
The International Education and Resource Network (IEARN) has a list of resources on school and workplace bullying at www.bullying.org
Canadian Race Relations Foundation has many resources related to anti-racist education, including a guide on how deal with racism in our schools. Tel: 1-888-240-4936 (toll free) or 416-952-3500
The Metropolitan Toronto Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children (METRAC) has a CD Rom and a manual for implementing a sexual assault prevention program. Call (416) 392-3135.
Health Canada has activities for educators, children, and youth on Children's rights.
Street Law has resources for educators. Find sample lessons from Community Works: Smart Teens Make Safer Communities and Save Our Streets (SOS).
Mighty Media (U.S.) has online educational lessons at www.teaching.com
Mediate.com (U.S.) has articles related to conflict resolution.

1 Statistics Canada (1998). Youth violent crime. The Daily. Tuesday, December 21, 1999

2 Sudermann, M. and Jaffe, P. (1999). A Handbook for Health and Social Service Providers and Educators on Children Exposed to Woman Abuse/Family Violence. Family Violence Prevention Unit, Health Canada. <source link>

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