Quebec unions denounce violence and threats in province schools

Parents are concerned, children are afraid to go to class and even school personnel are afraid, CSQ president Eric Gingras said Tuesday.

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In a joint statement released Tuesday, unions representing Quebec teachers, education professionals and support staff denounced what they described as rising levels of violence and threats in the province’s schools.

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CSQ-affiliated unions say the climate is deteriorating and “things are coming to a head in many places.”

Parents are concerned, children are afraid to go to class and even school personnel are afraid, CSQ president Eric Gingras said Tuesday.

The CSQ, which represents the majority of primary and secondary teachers in the province, as well as professionals and support staff, calls on all authorities to express a zero tolerance approach to violence and threats, including if the latter turn out to be hoaxes.

Gingras said that a comprehensive prevention program must be implemented to ensure that schools remain a safe environment in which to learn.

The union’s call to action comes a day after 11 people, six in Montreal and five in Châteauguay, were arrested for making online threats against local schools and nearly a week after a teacher was stabbed while teaching a class. at a high school in Montreal. Michel’s neighborhood.