February 25, 2025 – Today, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) released a report based on a province-wide survey conducted on their behalf by Pollara Strategic Insights amongst N=2,873 Catholic teachers who are members of the union. The report reveals that violence against teachers in Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools is no longer rare or isolated – it is widespread, increasing, and reshaping daily classroom life. Indeed, it is the new, unfortunate normal. Some of the key findings include:
Prevalence of Student Violence
- 9 in 10 teachers have experienced or witnessed violence or harassment at school
- 4 in 5 teachers have witness violence against a colleague
- Incidents are getting more frequent; teachers now report an average of 7 violent incidents per year
- Women report higher exposure to acts of violence, especially in Kindergarten and Grades 1 to 3.
- Violence and harassment affect all teachers, but women, 2SLGBTQIA+, Black, Indigenous, racialized, and disabled teachers report disproportionate exposure, as well as less confidence that existing reporting systems will lead to meaningful action.
Types & Impacts of Violence
- Teachers report physical assaults, threats, and incidents involving everyday classroom objects – and nearly 1 in 5 violent incidents involved a weapon
- Two-thirds of violent incidents resulted in physical injury, emotional harm, or property damage
Lack of Prevention & Discipline
- 1 in 3 teachers have been discouraged from reporting incidents
- 1 in 5 say their violent incident reports resulted in no outcome
- More than half of teachers do not feel adequately prepared to respond to violence
Impacts on Teaching & Learning
- 4 in 5 teachers say violence disrupts their ability to teach
- Nearly half of teachers have changed their behaviour due to safety concerns
Pollara conducted the online survey amongst OECTA members from March 19 to April 8, 2025. A total of N=2,873 members completed the survey, which carries a margin of error of +1.7%, 19 times out of 20. The dataset has been weighted to reflect the actual demographic and geographic distribution of the OECTA membership.
To read the full OECTA press release, survey backgrounder, and full report, please visit the OECTA website.
