 Homophobic Bullying At Huron Heights School in Newmarket
Dave
26Jun2008 19:18
EDT |
| It's not often that I post my own personal views online, but today I feel compelled to make an exception.
Having been involved with various LGBT organizations in York Region over the past 4 years, and after just celebrating a very successful week of York Pride Fest events, I was starting to feel that we were making some good progress.
I was therefore stunned, this afternoon, to read an article in the online edition of the Era Banner, about homophobic bullying at Huron Heights School in Newmarket. This article can be found at http://yorkregion.com/News/Regional%20News/article/77341
From informed sources, I managed to discover that this problem started in elementary school. Because the culprits moved from that school to Huron Heights at the same time as Daniel (the victim), the problem moved with them. The bottom line is that for three years, Huron Heights school failed to find a way to put an end to this particlar case of homophobic bullying. In short, in contrast to Newmarket's other 3 high schools, this one has now been highlighted as inept when it comes to combatting problems of homophobia and bullying.
Even when Daniel's problem was brought to the attention of the school board, they too were seemingly incapable of resolving it, ultimately giving rise to a need for the parents to initiate a Human Rights Commission Case. The family is unable to reveal the terms of settlement of that case, because non-disclosure of that information is one of those terms - which would suggest very clearly to me that the school board, would rather not divulge how much their failure to act effectively at an earlier stage has ultimately cost the taxpayer.
But this isn't the first time that York Region District School Board has demonstarted its inability to act effectively. Only a few years ago students at Richmond Hill High School wanted to start a GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) club. The principal however unilaterally decided that a GSA was not to be permitted, regardless of school board policy which implied that GSAs should be allowed. On that occasion too, as I recall, the school board, left to its own devices, found itself unable to achieve any resolution to the problem. Then, one year later, the Minister of Education visited the school and was confronted by students. Soon after that confrontation, the principal was suddenly overruled and the GSA was launched.
And, a year prior to the problem in Richmond Hill there was a situation of homophobic bullying at Keswick High School - which also gained press coverage after the school and board had failed to resolve the problem.
It seems ironic to me that Bill Hogarth, the director of the school board, states on the YRDSB web site "The Board is committed to the principles of equity that can enable all students to learn and grow to their full potential, in environments that welcome differences and are free from discrimination." First of all, with 'all students' in this sentence, I'm considering his claim to be an outright lie, unless the Era Banner article is mere fiction. Then, I'm having problems with his use of the word 'committed', as the handling of this situation at Huron Heights would seem to me to demonstrate no commitment whatsoever - just as I perceived a total absence of any school board commitment in regard to the GSA problem at Richmond Hill and the bullying in Keswick.
All the same, even though it seldom manifests itself, the school board's 'commitment' did at least manage to deliver the 'Character Matters' initiative, inspired by Bill Hogarth and an initiative for which the school board can be commended. For those who are unaware, the 'Character Matters' initiative teaches students the importance of character development, specifically in regard to the 10 character attributes of respect, responsibility, honesty, empathy, fairness, initiative, courage, integrity, perseverence and optimism.
But alongside this initiative we have -
- too many school staff still unprepared to respond with any sense of 'responsibility' to instances of homophobic bullying,
- too little 'respect' and 'empathy' by some school staff for the victims of bullying,
- no sign of school board 'honesty' when it comes to revealing the terms of settlement of court cases,
- a lack of a principal's 'fairness' to students who want a GSA,
- no signs of 'initiative', 'courage' or 'integrity' from the school board in settling these issues,
- and a lack of any 'optimism', on my part, about the ability of the school board to overcome its apparent impotency, in order to implement and enforce the policies and initiatives that it manages to contrive.
So I'm left thinking who really is it, that most needs the 'Character Matters' training? Should it be for the students, or would it be far better directed first and foremost at the staff of the board and its schools? |
Re: Homophobic Bullying At Huron Heights School in Newmarket
Brian Szuberwood
4Jul2008 18:52
EDT |
| My son is registered at Meadowbrook PS to start in September. Meadowbrook is a feeder school of Huron Heights Secondary.
I just sent a message to the school asking for a meeting to review the Board's apparent lack of commitment to address the bullying issue. My son is not gay (as far as I am able to determine) but he will be living with me and my partner and my son may be considered by his classmates "guily by association". Thank you for posting this issue, Dave. We need to see some changes happen. |
Re: Homophobic Bullying At Huron Heights School in Newmarket
alex crocker
30May2009 17:33
EDT |
| I used to attend Huron Heights and graduated in 2002 OAC year.
I remember alot of extremely casual bullying in both assertive and passive manners by senior students and and incredible ammount by grades 10 and 11. Many was the grade 9 who feared the elder classes and grades, and many who had been there long enough knew that even with the school's diversity, for it has a great deal of it, it's not a formal affair and not really celebrated. What is worse, the school has had a terrible stigma allready attune to it via previous drug deals and of course, a stabbing occurance in the mid 1990's.
What is silly is that the school runs or had run, classes on health and sex education, and does not nor EVER that I remember, the issues of LGBTI people, and gendered abuse, and bullying. I would love to see a half credit or full credit course taken as an elective for a general introduction to LGBTI issues and peoples, BUT have some small ammount of it presented in health classes or physed classes as a short look at aknowledgement that such things and such peoples do suffer.
I think a greater stern hand should be taken in classrooms by educating those using negative language via a productive means.
It's an opportunity to present issues not just as an LBGTI issue, but as a humanities issue. To show, tell and example real life scenarios to students in a blunt, direct and honest way, perhaps may be shocking enough and interesting or eyecatching enough to get the attention of a more equal student body.
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