To the Editors,
I was very saddened to see, though not surprised, upon reading the article in the 8 December 2022 edition of The Haldimand Press about the Grand Erie District Board of Education’s abject failure to follow its own policies and protect a vulnerable child regarding a student bringing a weapon so as to threaten and possibly harm another student.
My two children were in the old Haldimand and later Grand Erie District system for their entire education, 1989 to 2005, and it was very regrettably very commonplace then for the Board to not follow its own polices. Obviously, the Board still does not enforce its own policies.
My children, who are both ADHD and the youngest high functioning autistic, were always being tormented, threatened, and abused, verbally and physically, and the teaching staff along with the principals were always dragging their feet in responding and preventing further abuse, even refusing to act.
However, all the while, those same teachers and principals kept repeating the Board’s worthless policies and platitudes that they had a “zero tolerance” for any verbal or physical abuse.
But the Board always refused to “put their money where their mouth was.”
Many parents today are afraid to discipline their children or set any boundaries for their children. Many children are also taught that they are never to blame for anything they may be involved in. It is always “someone else’s” fault, never their darling child’s responsibility.
As a result, we have generations of children who have no respect for anyone or any authority and cannot accept any responsibility or accountability. And many parents do not help when they blindly protect their child, choosing to point their finger at the victim, saying “it’s their fault,” or “they were asking for it.”
Myself, I finally solved that issue by informing the principals how I would handle the situation if they would not do their job.
Of course, the principals would whine, “you’ll end up in court.”
To which I would reply that those same principals would have to testify, under oath in court, before a justice, that they failed or refused to follow their own safety policies. After I said that, those principals would, very reluctantly, crack down on my childrens’ abusers, much to the consternation of the abusive childrens’ parents.
Even though my children have been out of the Grand Erie District system for nearly 20 years, I can still see one or two, even both scenarios playing out because of the Board’s negligence.
One of these days, a student will bring a weapon to school and harm or even kill another student, or some parents will bring a large lawsuit against the Board for negligence, even wrongful death.
And the Grand Erie Board will opine, “We have a zero tolerance for violence.” Even though the Grand Erie Board refuses to follow and/or enforce their policies.
You reap what you sow.
In closing, I would be happy to assist any family bringing such an action against the Board. The Grand Erie District School Board must be held accountable.
Allison Gowling
Woodstock, but a native and
long-term resident of Haldimand County
