Presentation by David Coombs, Superintendent of Education, at Canadian Safe Schools Network conference, Mississauga, ON

1. Shooting the
Elephant
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS IN A ZERO-TOLERANCE WORLD

2. He wears a mask, and his face grows to fit it.

3. Our culture loves to sensationalize

4. We are over-diagnosing bullying

5. Bill 13 Definition of Bullying
 1. (1) “bullying” means aggressive and typically repeated behaviour by a
pupil where,
 (a) the behaviour is intended by the pupil to have the effect of, or the
pupil ought to know that the behaviour would be likely to have the effect
of,
 (i) causing harm, fear or distress to another individual, including
physical, psychological, social or academic harm, harm to the individual’s
reputation or harm to the individual’s property, or
 (ii) creating a negative environment at a school for another
individual, and
 (b) the behaviour occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived
power imbalance between the pupil and the individual based on factors
such as size, strength, age, intelligence, peer group power, economic
status, social status, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, family
circumstances, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, disability
or the receipt of special education; (“intimidation”)

6. A campaign to make someone miserable

7. Understand the problem

8. It’s not that simple

9. You are biased

10. Zero tolerance = zero thinking

11. It’s a relational problem that
demands a relational response

12. Tough consequences don’t work

13. Kids learn their behavior from us

14. These are children

15. Children will not be nice to each other all the time

16. Emphasize prevention

17. Discipline reasonably

18. Communicate relentlessly