October 2025 - Minaz Jivraj My Take: Violence in Plain Sight: The Shocking Gap Between School Board Reports and Daily Reality

Ontario’s public education sector is facing an intensifying crisis: violent incidents in schools are surging, yet the statistics reported to the Ontario Ministry of Education capture only a small fraction of the hardships endured daily by education workers and students. At the heart of this crisis is a reporting system that fails to reflect the sweeping reality of physical, emotional, and psychological threats experienced in classrooms, as documented by unions and boards themselves. Drawing on detailed findings from major CUPE surveys, government policy documents, and board-level case studies, this article investigates the scale of the problem, the broken mechanisms of reporting, and the lived realities that numbers often fail to convey [1][2].

The Data Gap: Policy vs. Practice

The Ministry of Education in Ontario requires school boards to report violent incidents annually through the Ontario School Information System (OnSIS). However, the official definition is restrictive, covering only the gravest events: assaults “causing bodily harm requiring medical attention,” cases involving weapons, sexual assault, robbery, extortion, and hate/bias-motivated incidents [3][2]. In contrast, school boards internally log a much broader range of events; pushing, slapping, biting, that may cause injury or distress but fall below the government’s threshold.

Case Example: Grand Erie District School Board

In the 2023–24 school year, the Grand Erie District School Board recorded 4,494 workplace violence incidents, yet only 11 were counted in provincial data [2]. The vast majority (over 3,500) involved physical contact that did not require medical attention, highlighting a discrepancy of staggering proportions.

Peel District School Board

Peel, labeled as the “most violent” board by provincial numbers, reported 431 violent incidents to the government. Their internal records for the same period, however, showed more than 6,400 incidents; nearly 15 times the number seen in provincial statistics [2][4].

CUPE and OSBCU Survey Findings: Voices from the Frontlines

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), through the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU), has conducted extensive surveys that starkly contrast with the government’s reported numbers.

·       A 2025 province-wide OSBCU report, summarized from over 12,000 education workers, found nearly 75% of all respondents experience violent or disruptive incidents in their work environment [1][5][6]. 

·       Educational Assistants and Child and Youth Workers reported rates as high as 95% experiencing violence; over half facing these incidents daily [5].

·       In Toronto, CUPE Local 1328 revealed that among its members, “a good day is only getting hit three times.” Photographs of injuries, from puncture wounds to torn-out hair, document routine violence, with many workers conceding that the frequency of incidents has led to reporting fatigue and normalization [7].

Reporting Fatigue and the Culture of Underreporting

There is a deep disconnect between the lived experience of violence and what gets recorded officially. Education workers routinely cite the following as reasons for underreporting:

·       “Normalization” of violence, with administrative or peer pressure discouraging repeated reports unless an injury is severe [7][5].

·       Complex, time-consuming reporting protocols that disincentivize logging every incident, especially when prior reports have not led to interventions or system change [8].

·       The pervasive sense that being hurt “is part of the job,” with workplace culture shifting towards acceptance of risk rather than prevention and support [7][1].

Policy in the Crosshairs: Ministerial Review and Outdated Definitions

Recently, the Ontario government’s own spokesperson acknowledged the inadequacy of the current policy, promising to review the memorandum that sets the bar for what is reportable [2]. That memo, initially drafted in 2011, fails to account for the daily lived realities of physical aggression and psychological harm experienced by school staff and students today.

Systemic Factors Exacerbating the Crisis

Underfunding and Understaffing

·       Chronic underfunding and severe understaffing leave education workers stretched thin, with insufficient personnel to de-escalate or prevent situations before they turn violent [5][9].

·       More than nine out of ten Educational Assistants report working with students in need of one-on-one support who do not receive it due to lack of budget or personnel [5].

Erosion of Support Programs

Frontline testimony from CUPE 1328 and others notes the dismantling of proactive and preventive student support services. Former Child and Youth Workers report the loss of early intervention roles, leaving workers “to put out fire after fire,” with each episode of violence reinforcing a cycle of reactivity instead of prevention [7].

The Impact on Education and Wellbeing

Education Quality

Frequent disruptions undermine the classroom environment and student achievement. Students who witness or are involved in violent incidents are often unable to concentrate or feel secure, affecting learning outcomes and emotional development [5][1].

Worker Wellbeing

A majority of education workers surveyed cite rising levels of burnout, anxiety, and absenteeism directly linked to workplace violence. Many report, suffering physical and emotional trauma, receiving little support or meaningful recourse [5][6].

Student Safety

While most data centers on adult staff, the ripple effects touch students directly. Inadequate tracking and response to lower-threshold violence can allow behavioral cycles to worsen and escalate [8].

Discrepancies Quantified: Board vs. Ministry Reporting

The following table summarizes recent board-level and provincial incident reporting:

School Board	2023–24 Incidents Reported to Ministry	Board’s Internal Violence Records
Grand Erie DSB	11	4,494
Peel District SB	431	6,418
Toronto District SB	410	Not Published

Province Total                                ~4,400 [2][1][4]                             (likely 10x higher)       |

The Human Toll: CUPE Survey Testimonies

·       “I feel like it’s just expected that I’ll be hit or sworn at. Reporting doesn’t lead to support.” Educational Assistant, CUPE Local 1328 [7]

·       “Every shift starts with wondering how many times I’ll get hurt tonight.” Child and Youth Worker, OSBCU survey [5]

·       “We are telling the province a completely different story than we are telling each other.” Board Admin, Grand Erie DSB [2]

Toward Accurate Reporting and Real Solutions

Transparency and Data Sharing

There is near-universal demand for school boards to forward all incident-level data; not just critical incident reports, to the Ministry. Only with a true picture can resource allocation and prevention strategies target the crisis accurately [2][8].

Investment in Staffing and Supports

Both CUPE and OSBCU demand urgent expansion of frontline staff, not only to react to violence but to prevent it through adequate supervision, early intervention, and specialized supports [7][5]. Investment in mental health and restorative justice resources is also critical.

Culture Change and Supportive Workplaces

Education workers insist on a shift away from a culture of normalization and victim-blaming. Instead, policies must incentivize comprehensive reporting, peer support, and trauma-informed approaches for all staff and students [8][5].

Conclusion

Ontario’s school violence crisis is not simply about numbers; it is about whose pain counts, whose tragedy is recorded, and how institutions choose to see (or not see) what is really happening. The gulf between what school boards live and what the province acknowledges represents more than bureaucratic oversight: it is a matter of justice, dignity, and the fundamental ability of schools to fulfill their core educational mission. Verifiable findings from CUPE surveys, government records, and frontline testimonies leave no room to doubt the urgency of reform. The province must act with resolve: broaden the definition of reportable violence, resource its frontline staff, and rebuild the trust of those who have been shouting for help, unheard, for too long [1][5][7][2][4][6].

References:

- [CUPE Provincial Survey—Workplace Violence Findings, 2025] [1][5][6]

- [Global News, “Ford government to review policy that only records worst…”] [2]

- [Ontario Ministry of Education, Policy/Program Memorandum 120] [3]

- [CommunityWire and CUPE-OSBCU, Public Statements 2025] [7][9][10]

- [Global News, “These 5 Ontario school boards recorded the most violent...”] [4]

- [Ontario Ministry of Labour, Workplace Violence in School Boards Guide] [11]

- [ETFO Violence in Schools Factsheet] [8]

Sources

[1] New data confirms alarming rise in violence in Ontario ... https://cupe.ca/new-data-confirms-alarming-rise-violence-ontario-schools-osbcu-demands-urgent-action-ford-government

[2] Ford government to review policy that only records worst ... https://globalnews.ca/news/11403270/ford-government-school-board-violence-data-reporting-review/

[3] Policy/Program Memorandum 120 | Education in Ontario http://www.ontario.ca/document/education-ontario-policy-and-program-direction/policyprogram-memorandum-120

[4] These 5 Ontario school boards recorded the most violent ... https://globalnews.ca/news/11335534/ontario-school-board-violence/

[5] Survey of Ontario education workers finds extreme ... https://cupe.ca/survey-ontario-education-workers-finds-extreme-underfunding-and-understaffing-has-caused-widespread

[6] OSBCU - Shine a Light on Violence https://cupe.on.ca/osbcu-shine-a-light-on-violence/

[7] 'A Good Day Is Only Getting Hit Three Times': CUPE TCDSB ... https://www.communitywire.ca/2025/08/15/a-good-day-is-only-getting-hit-three-times-cupe-tcdsb-education-workers-demand-action-as-school-violence-soars/

[8] Let's Make Our Schools Safe - Addressing Violence in ... https://www.etfo.ca/getmedia/e4984b20-b878-4872-a5b1-6342aeee75ac/240508-Factsheet-Violence-in-Schools.pdf

[9] “Ontario's school boards are in severe crisis”: Survey of ... https://cupe.on.ca/ontarios-school-boards-are-in-severe-crisis/

[10] MEDIA ADVISORY: “Ontario's school boards are in severe crisis” https://www.communitywire.ca/2025/03/20/ontarios-school-boards-are-in-severe-crisis-survey-of-12000-cupe-education-workers-finds-extreme-underfunding-and-understaffing-has-caused-widespread-violence-burnout-and-13/

[11] Workplace Violence in School Boards - A Guide to the Law https://files.ontario.ca/mlitsd-workplace-violence-in-school-boards-guide-en-2023-11-23.pdf

Minaz Jivraj MSc., C.P.P., C.F.E., C.F.E.I., C.C.F.I.-C., I.C.P.S., C.C.T.P.

Disclaimer:The information provided in this blog/article is for general informational purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content, the author makes no representations or warranties about its completeness or suitability for any particular purpose. Readers are encouraged to seek professional legal advice specific to their situation.