St. John’s, N.L. (October 30, 2024) – Paul Dinn, PC Shadow Minister for Education and MHA for Topsail-Paradise, today repeated his call for the Furey Liberals to demonstrate leadership in addressing the escalating school violence and bullying crisis in our province.
Dinn was responding to the latest update from the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA) yesterday, which reported that 4,052 violent or aggressive incidents occurred in our schools last year—a 29 per cent increase, with police being called 178 times.
This confirms the situation has worsened since the Association first published numbers in March.
“I share Trent Langdon’s view that the Furey government’s leadership in education has been non-existent,” said Dinn. “We have an acting Minister who has been invisible, with zero outreach to the NLTA since taking office. It is appalling.”
Dinn noted that he publicly called out the Minister on this issue on September 20 and October 3, yet there has been silence from the Furey Liberals.
Recently, there was a disturbing attack on a student at MacDonald Drive Junior High, which came shortly after a weapons-related incident at Waterford Valley High on September 18. Dinn also highlighted that E.A. Butler All-Grade in McKays went into a secure lockdown on September 20 following a violent outburst, and the traumatic attack at Prince of Wales Collegiate remains fresh in the community’s mind.
Dinn repeated his call, stating, “Where is the Minister of Education? How many more attacks and violent incidents need to occur in our schools before the Minister takes action?”
He noted that, while the NLTA-initiated School Safety Coalition has been meeting, there have been no updates from the government, and the Minister remains notably absent.
“Unfortunately, we have not heard any response or action plan from the leadership of the Department of Education. As the NLTA President pointed out, the Furey Liberals issue vague statements saying ‘students are safe,’ when the reality, as confirmed by the numbers, is very different. Our students, teaching professionals, and parents deserve better.”