To book this funded and important one hour learning opportunity for your next principals’ association meeting or to find out more about the resources available, please contact the Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario.

Woman Abuse Affects Our Children

The Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario in an innovative partnership with the Ontario Principals’ Council, the Women’s Directorate, the Ministry of Education and Springtide Resources, has contributed to the development of an excellent workshop and resource. We have also participated in the training of a group of principals as facilitators. The purpose of the training is to prepare them to lead their colleagues in a one hour workshop designed for specifically for principals to help raise their awareness and to assist them in identifying the signs of domestic violence and the impact it can have on student learning. A more in depth workshop is being delivered through OECTA to teachers.

Schools are a mirror of our communities and abuse against women is a reality that needs to be addressed. Certainly the goal of equal and healthy relationships connects with our initiatives for bully prevention and safe, healthy and caring schools. As Catholic school principals, we are well aware that our schools are a reflection of the communities in which we live. We know that our schools are often the only safe haven that some of our students experience. Educators can and do make a difference in the life of a child affected by violence. Our profound sense of social justice and the challenge to model responsible citizenship, calls us to respond with knowledge and resourcefulness to the injustice of abuse.

Facts About Woman Abuse:

• occurs in all age, racial, socioeconomic, educational, occupational and religious groups
• is caused by factors contributing to the dynamic of violence against women in society - inequality of women, gender stereotypes, and attitudes condoning violence against women
• occurs within a current or past intimate relationship
• typically involves repetitive behavior including different types of abuse – physical assault, psychological, emotional and economic abuse     

What Educators Can Do:

• Promote the safety of students, parents, and staff
• Recognize and act on students’ signals that they are experiencing difficulties
• Use supportive strategies to assist students to cope in the classroom and on the playground
• Teach prevention curricula that helps students understand violence against women is rooted in inequality and address gender stereotypes
• Support and provide information to survivors about community resources

Teachers can be the caring adults who make a difference in the life of a student experiencing violence at home.

Woman Abuse Affects Our Children

To access additional resources in a comprehensive series of video modules click here.