The Violence and Harassment Against Educators Project
The Violence and Harassment Against Educators Project
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In 2018, Chris Bruckert (Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa) and Darcy Santor (School of Psychology, University of Ottawa) initiated the Violence and Harassment Against Educators Project. The goal of this project is to investigate and shed light on the workplace harassment and violence experienced by educators and support staff working in Ontario’s elementary and secondary schools
To date, the Violence and Harassment Against Educators Project has:
Surveyed over 3,500 elementary and high school teachers
Surveyed over 7,000 education sector workers (e.g., EAs, ECEs, clerical workers)
Conducted individual and focus group interviews with over 100 education workers
Shared findings through reports and publications
Presented at various union-lead events throughout Ontario,
Launched a new survey in the fall of 2023,
Reported on the crisis of violence and harassment in schools across Ontario, Saskatchewan, and more coming soon...
On September 24, 2024, the research team released a new report entitled "Beyond the Breaking Point: Violence Against Saskatchewan's Education Sector Workers." Click here to read the report!
On April 22, 2025, we released "Running on Fumes: Violence, Austerity, and Institutional Neglect in Ontario Schools." Over 6,000 education sector workers across Ontario participated in this survey. This in-depth report provides a scathing analysis of a growing crisis of violence in Ontario's publicly funded schools. Click here to read the full report!
Research Reports
Research Reports
Canadian Schools:
Canadian Schools:
A hazardous workplace
A hazardous workplace
"Well I’m not allowed to discuss stuff so it makes it hard. My current partner works in a prison and the stuff I deal with is comparable to his job. But he gets a higher pay, decent health benefits, and more safety plans in place."
- Educational Assistant, CUPE National
Running Fumes:
Running Fumes:
Violence, Austerity, and Institutional Neglect in Ontario Schools
Violence, Austerity, and Institutional Neglect in Ontario Schools
"We are running on fumes. We need support systems in place. We need more human and physical resources to help students. We need more disability support. We need better programs for students who are not yet ready for integrated classrooms so that we can fade them in gradually as they demonstrate a capacity to function without damage to their mental health. Our system is causing these students harm. This is a symptom."
- Classroom Teacher
Beyond the Breaking Point:
Beyond the Breaking Point:
Violence Against Saskatchewan's Education Sector Workers
Violence Against Saskatchewan's Education Sector Workers
"We are hitting crisis level. There is not enough training for school staff and not enough support for children. The effects are teacher and support staff burnout. The stress of having violent children in the classroom is constant. Staff become on edge, children become on edge and fearful."
- Classroom Teacher
In Harm's Way:
In Harm's Way:
The Epidemic of Violence Against Education Sector Workers in Ontario
The Epidemic of Violence Against Education Sector Workers in Ontario
"With all the cutbacks it gets harder and harder to do our job. More for less is not a good thing in education. I feel we are just fire extinguishers going from one incident to the next."
- Educational Assistant
Facing the Facts:
Facing the Facts:
The Escalating Crisis of Violence Against Elementary School Educators in Ontario
The Escalating Crisis of Violence Against Elementary School Educators in Ontario
"While the search for answers about how to help these kids and the political battle over responsibility wages on, teachers and children are left on the frontlines with no back up, lots of blame and criticism, and a complete feeling of utter failure. They are the casualties of this war."
- Classroom Teacher
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