TDSB gave voice to minority

Re Carleton University study proves TDSB was wrong to remove cops from

schools, DiManno, Jan. 19 In arguing that the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) erred when it ended the School Resource Officer (SRO) program because research proves the program works, it seems that Rosie DiManno erred.

The TDSB never claimed a preponderance of evidence against the success of the SRO program. Rather it rested its decision on evidence that a statistically small group, within in the group of schools selected for the program, felt less safe and more uncomfortable.

This small group, the TDSB’s argument went, is made up in the majority of those whose voices are generally lost in the clamour of the majority.

Then, in true equity-oriented fashion, the TDSB amplified the voice of this small minority to give the experiences of people in that group equal weight to that of the majority.

As such, the TDSB decided that if anyone felt less safe as a result of the SRO program, it wasn’t worth it.

However, in its zeal to show itself as an equity-oriented organization, the TDSB did in fact err, but not as Ms. Dimanno thinks. The TDSB erred in that it did not replace the SRO program with something that would, in an inclusive manner, make everyone feel safer.

The question remains: What can be done in schools to ensure everyone feels safe?

The answer is straightforward: More — way more — well-trained hall monitors would be a good start. Then, more social workers, psychologists, attendance counsellors, education assistants and teachers. Leslie Wolfe, president, Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, Toronto