MONTREAL, June 2, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - For school-based violence prevention efforts to be effective, there needs to be a deep commitment to the cause and ongoing collaboration among key stakeholders. These stakeholders, following their respective roles and responsibilities, must ensure that concrete steps are taken to ensure that schools are safe, caring, and productive communities.
The Grandes rencontres project, created by the Fondation Jasmin Roy in conjunction with the Ministère de l'Éducation, de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche, and the Peace Grantmakers Network, brings together a variety of stakeholders – from educational partners to research organizations like PREVNet – in an effort to create a positive and caring school climate. These organizations and their partners are devoted to the struggle against violence and bullying, and together provide school system stakeholders with training.
« La lutte contre la violence et l'intimidation fait l'objet d'une grande mobilisation depuis des années et les Grandes rencontres témoignent de cette volonté commune de la perpétuer. Ce projet novateur permettra à nos établissements d'enseignement de profiter d'une expertise dans le cadre d'une démarche structurée et concertée, pour que le plus grand nombre d'élèves puissent évoluer dans un environnement sain et sécuritaire. Je salue cette initiative de la Fondation Jasmin Roy », a affirmé le ministre de l'Éducation, de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche, M. François Blais.
« The government is committed to preventing and reducing bullying at all ages and in all environments. In this sense, I am delighted to see various stakeholders join forces to present Les Grandes Rencontres vers un climat scolaire positif et bienveillant. The need for training was repeatedly expressed in various anti-bullying forums made available to the public by the Government of Quebec. I am convinced that these training days will contribute to the well-being of students in their schools, families and communities», said Francine Charbonneau, the Minister of Families, Minister responsible for Seniors and Minister responsible for Anti-Bullying.
In 2014, the Chaire de recherche sur la sécurité et la violence en milieu éducatif at Laval University revealed in a dissertation that 80% of teachers have not received initial training to intervene in violence and bullying cases. According to the survey on 3,200 teachers conducted by Claire Beaumont's team, 80% of elementary teachers and 83% of secondary teachers have not received any initial training in this area.
The Grandes rencontres will train Quebec teachers, principals and school stakeholders by holding a 2-day round of meetings over 3 years throughout the 17 regions of Quebec. The training days will begin in 2015 - 2016 and will conclude in the spring of 2018.
Violence and bullying are, among other things, human relationship problems, and the solutions to them must focus on interpersonal factors, primarily through educational approaches aimed at developing social skills. Commitment to the development of a positive school climate involves choosing measures that will enable all young people to live in greater harmony, teaching the perpetrators of acts of bullying and violence to meet their needs in more constructive ways, helping the victims of bullying and violence to be more assertive, and supporting witnesses in developing greater compassion toward others. This is how a welcoming community is created. All of these skills can be acquired through social and emotional learning.
Studies are repeatedly demonstrating that social and emotional skills play a key role in the development of good students and citizens capable of making their way in the work world. These studies also show that many high-risk behaviours (e.g. use of drugs, violence, bullying and dropping out of school) can be eliminated, or their likelihood reduced, when the development of students' social and emotional skills is approached as a long-term, overall goal (Durlak et al., 2011*). Social and emotional learning, as developed in the field of education in recent years, targets the acquisition of abilities and skills that are of great importance in a school context.
The Grandes rencontres project is a response to concerns and needs expressed at the anti-bullying forum held by Premier Philippe Couillard on October 2, 2014. Participants were asked to support and guide the school community, and to share best practices. By promoting healthy relationships, respect for others, social responsibility, and responsible citizenship to our children and youth, we can reduce violence and bullying in Québec.
First Nations elementary and secondary schools will also be invited to participate in the Grandes rencontres in order to discuss best practices to be implemented and to develop tools to help them prevent and intervene in cases of violence and bullying specific to their situations.
SOURCE Fondation Jasmin Roy
Image with caption: "Jasmin Roy, president Fondation Jasmin Roy (CNW Group/Fondation Jasmin Roy)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150602_C6126_PHOTO_EN_17397.jpg
Image with caption: "Sophie Desmarais honorary patron and Jasmin Roy, president Fondation Jasmin Roy (CNW Group/Fondation Jasmin Roy)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150602_C6126_PHOTO_EN_17398.jpg
Image with caption: "Émilie Bierre spokesperson Fondation Jasmin Roy (CNW Group/Fondation Jasmin Roy)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150602_C6126_PHOTO_EN_17399.jpg
Mylène Isabelle, Project Manager, The Grandes Rencontres, Jasmin Roy Foundation, Cell: 514.816.3844, [email protected]
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