Classrooms should be safe space for learning

Violence in the classroom is on the rise, and it’s taking a profound toll on the people our society entrusts with educating our children.

It’s a long-simmering problem that has grown to the point that teachers and support staff across Canada are now sounding alarm with increasing urgency.

Documents obtained from the Workers Compensation Board by our sister paper, the Winnipeg Free Press, show that injury claims have soared in public schools in recent years.

There were 844 more reports from school staff — including educational assistants (EAs), early childhood educators and vocational teachers — made to the WCB last year compared to a decade earlier, a 332 per cent increase.

Surface wounds and bruises among school staff quadrupled from 2015 to 2025. Open wound incidents grew ninefold.

The number of “other traumatic injuries and disorders,” including concussions, back pain and general soreness, also increased dramatically during that period, from 34 in 2015 to 434 in 2025.

According to various reports and surveys, staff are being punched, bitten, kicked and spat on at increasing rates. What was once seen as isolated outbursts in schools now appears to be a growing and deeply rooted problem.

Last weekend, the Free Press carried a story about Brandon elementary school teacher Julie Braaksma, who was called for as backup help when a Grade 1 student burst into a temper tantrum in January.

“Objects were flying out of the classroom — school supplies, pencils, toys,” Braaksma said, recalling the scene. The boy apparently grew more frustrated as his classmates evacuated the room. Moments later, the six-year-old picked up a chair to throw at her.

In an attempt to retreat, she tripped over a desk and fell to the ground. At that point, the child jumped on her and started punching her with a building block, she said, adding that his scratches drew blood and she suffered bruised ribs.

“It’s not out of the norm for what’s happening in this province, but it’s definitely one of the more serious incidents,” Braaksma told the Free Press. “Usually, I’ve just been punched or kicked or spit on.”

This kind of situation is unacceptable. And while the numbers coming out of the WCB are disturbing, the problem goes well beyond Manitoba classrooms.

In Ontario, research shows the rate of student-initiated violence against elementary school teachers grew by more than 30 per cent between 2017-18 and 2022-23.

Meanwhile, research from the University of Ottawa shows the rate of violence against women in schools is twice that of men.

Violence in schools is not just about a child acting out. It can also reflect broader systemic challenges: underfunded classrooms, unmet mental health needs, insufficient support staff and unclear or inconsistent policies.

Teachers and EAs are often being asked to manage increasingly complex behavioural and emotional issues without the tools or training to do so safely.

While some students who lash out may be struggling with trauma, disabilities or mental health issues, the needs of these students do not justify the absence of protections for educators or the failure to invest in properly supporting everyone in the classroom.

Unfortunately, this crisis has not received the attention it deserves. That needs to change, and the response to it should be multi-layered.

For starters, the province should begin collecting and publishing data on incidents of violence in schools — not only to quantify the problem but to better inform decisions about staffing, training and resource allocation.

School divisions should also re-evaluate their policies around violent incidents. Educators must feel empowered to report violence without stigma or fear of reprisal. Clear protocols must be in place for responding to assaults and threats, and staff should be trained not only in de-escalation but also in recognizing when a situation requires additional intervention.

Perhaps most importantly, the provincial government must significantly increase funding for in-class supports. That means hiring more EAs and mental health professionals, reducing class sizes and ensuring that schools serving high-needs populations are prioritized.

None of these changes can happen without first acknowledging the problem. The silence around violence in schools must end. A culture of concealment helps no one and harms everyone.

Just as students should not be subjected to violence from teachers, teachers should not have to tolerate violence against them, either. It is a workplace safety issue, a public health issue and an educational equity issue.

If we value our educators and the students they serve, we must act with urgency, compassion and clarity. The classroom should be a place of safety and learning for everyone.

» Winnipeg Free Press and The Brandon Sun