Written by: "Anti-Racist" Agitator, Spy and  Informant Matt Lauder

ONTARIO TIGHTENS BEHAVIOUR RULES, STUDENTS TO SHOW NATIONALISM

“I affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.”

This fall, students will be reciting the Oath of Allegiance along with the national anthem on a daily basis. The result, the government hopes, will be respectful and law-abiding students.

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The Ontario government unveiled yesterday its new rules on behaviour for students, indicating a massive and more restrictive change in attitude for the province’s educators towards public education.

The new rules for conduct has stiffened the consequences for inappropriate behaviour, allowing school administrators to expel a student for behaviour that would have brought a suspension.

Along with singing the National Anthem, Ontario students will now have to pledge allegiance to the Queen by reciting the Oath of Citizenship on a daily basis. This change to the daily routine of students is part of a proposed code of conduct meant to curtail violence in schools.

Education Minister Janet Ecker stated that, “It’s an important symbol that shows respect for our country.” Ecker, herself, was unable to recite the “important symbol” when asked by reporters.

While many welcomed the move, the Monarchist League of Canada argues that making the Oath a daily school ritual will lessen its value in society. John Aimers, a spokesperson for the League, maintains that pledging allegiance should be reserved for special occasions.

Ecker confirms that there will be special exemptions to the pledge for those with religious beliefs or non-Canadians attending schools.

But, in the aftermath of recent school shootings and a knifing in Ontario schools, it is obvious that the government is merely developing a band aid solution to school violence by firming up policy to make punitive measures for inappropriate behaviour more strict. The government is not recognizing the need on part of the students to access counselling, quality education, and other support structures. The reason for the escalation of violence is the due to the fact that schools are getting larger, along with class sizes, and students are being reduced to mere statistics. There is no familiarity and support in the system.

In addition, forcing students to recite the Oath only creates resentment along with cheapening its symbolic nature. Merely reciting an Oath is not going to make better or respectful students.

What the government is attempting to do it create an education so strict that it engenders complacency among students. Free will and thought go out the door.

While I agree with the need to expel trouble students, especially those who bring weapons to school, merely kicking children out is not a constructive method of reviving Ontario’s schools system. Rather, money should be invested in hiring more qualified teachers and counsellors.

The problem of violence is the result of a systemic elimination of funds from the school system. The same concerns are easily recognizable in the United States. Students are victims of a political system that simply does not care. They have become alienated, and poor behaviour is the result.

I’m surprised that the Ontario government hasn’t sold the education system to a private company to reduce cost and maximise profit.