Houston must address violence and threats in Nova Scotia schools

HALIFAX – Following a terrible period of violence between students and numerous threats at local schools, the NSNDP is calling on the Houston government to take urgent action to address violence in our schools. Two months ago, the student at the centre of the violent assault at C.P. Allen High School pled guilty and last week a series of threats forced several schools to close.

“It’s time for the Minister to show Nova Scotians what’s being done to ensure events like this never happen again. We need to be seeking solutions to avoid school violence and providing support to communities across the province who are wondering how to prevent similar events in the future,” said NSNDP Leader Claudia Chender. “It’s our understanding that the Minister has a report on her desk about the CPA incident. That information should be made public so families and school communities can have insight into how this could have happened, and what’s being done to make schools safer for students and staff.”

Schools reflect the community. Lack of additional supports in the classroom, child poverty, food insecurity, and the cost-of-living crisis must be part of the conversation when addressing issues in schools.

“Late in 2023 the Minister confirmed she wasn’t going to bring back school boards, a promise Tim Houston campaigned on, leaving families few options to connect with decision-makers about how things are done in our schools,” said NSNDP Education spokesperson Suzy Hansen. “Parents, teachers, and students are worried and deserve to be part of conversations around how we’re going to address these issues.”

According to the NSTU, last year 92 per cent of teachers surveyed said they had witnessed violence first-hand at school. Results from an NSNDP FOIPOP show incidents of violence in Nova Scotia schools increased 25 per cent last year.

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