As students across Haliburton County return to school this week, Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) director of learning Wes Hahn said he’s worried about violence and bullying within the local system.
In a report to TLDSB trustees Aug. 28, Hahn discussed results from student and teacher consultations held last spring where one of the common themes reported, particularly on the student side, was a lack of safety at school.
“Violence and bullying continue to be a concern across the province, but we’re worried about TLDSB. It’s interrupting student learning… it’s keeping them from attending school,” Hahn said.
Students commented on the lack of available safe spaces, noting washrooms as a “problem area” Hahn said. He noted washrooms have become a popular hangout space for some, with an increased presence of vaping at high schools.
While punishment forms part of the board’s solution for bad apples, Hahn believes directly engaging with students to press home the “very real” consequences of bullying for victims to be key. He noted this, along with other measures, would be key priorities for TLDSB this school year.
“We’ve already had our mental health team focus on supports, making sure caring adults are with students, educating them, helping them learn about the components of school life. It’s not a quick fix, but we have to get at this work… to make a difference,” Hahn said.
The director said TLDSB administration is working with certain schools to design better washroom facilities.
Hahn said one of the other primary concerns shared by students surrounded how they’re being taught in the classroom.
Trustee Deb McInerney felt it was “pretty significant” that youth felt they required better pedagogical methods and more relevant instruction. Hahn agreed.
“This is one of those areas that has been around since the beginning of time with teaching – how do you connect with kids, make it the most meaningful learning we can? It’s always a challenge,” Hahn said. “Kids said it would be nice if they came in at 11 a.m. and left at 2 p.m. and brought their guitar. That’s not quite possible, but we have to actively engage them [to improve].”
Hahn noted students are excited about opportunities afforded to them through co-op placements and hands-on tech programming.
Addressing the board’s five-year strategic plan, adopted in 2022, Hahn said, “we have been doing good things and are on the border of doing even better and greater things.” He said administrators have used evidence-based research over the past three years for all its key decisions.
Quoting author and education coach and facilitator Shane Safir, Hahn said the best way to make a difference across TLDSB schools is to continue to engage with and listen to students. And accept when something isn’t working.
“Confronting the brutal facts about where we stand is important. It doesn’t help to hide it, to not tackle it. It won’t go away unless we open it up and start doing the work,”
Hahn said. “We want to hear our students’ voices. They have a lot to say and don’t hold back.” Hahn noted student consultation will take place again this year.
Phones off
TLDSB is enforcing a new ‘off and away’ rule when it comes to cell phone use in the classroom.
The rule applies to the entire school community and also prohibits personal tablets and smartwatches. Students will be asked to turn off devices at the beginning of each instruction period and put them away to limit distractions and promote healthy relationships and meaningful engagement in the classroom, TLDSB says.
“The research tells us that excessive personal mobile device use limits attention, learning, relationships, and belonging in schools,” said Tanya Fraser, TLDSB’s associate superintendent of learning responsible for mental health services.
The change was one of the recommendations outlined by the Ministry of Education when it updated school board codes of conduct in April.
There are exceptions – students will be allowed to use their devices if they’re required for documented health and medical purposes, to support special education needs, or if directed by a teacher.
