This school has gone downhill over the last 3–4 years. Many staff, including myself, left last year due to poor working conditions and a complete lack of support from administration. Especially hard-hit are the educational assistants, who are doing their best while being constantly understaffed and overwhelmed. Safety is a major concern — students often run through the halls unsupervised, and violent or disruptive behaviour is rarely addressed with little to no consequences. Staff are regularly exposed to violence and classrooms are frequently evacuated. There’s nowhere near enough support for students with special needs. If you think your child is getting a quality education, think again. They’re being exposed to chaos, violence, and a culture of disrespect. It’s time to ask what’s really going on.

I have supplied at St. Thomas many times. I have felt welcome every time. The staff are welcoming and very helpful. I highly recommend supplying or taking a full time there.

Kindergarten Classrooms Are in Crisis—and No One Is Talking About It

I work in a kindergarten classroom with 26 children, one teacher, one ECE, and myself—the only Educational Assistant. Two of those children have special needs that require constant, individualized support.

But there’s only one of me.

Every day, we face moments of chaos and crisis. Children are being hurt. Educators are being hit, bitten, scratched, and spat on. Staff are going on medical leave from stress and injury. ECEs are being pulled away from their role to fill gaps meant for a second EA. The classroom becomes unstable. Learning is disrupted. The environment becomes unsafe—for everyone.

We are not okay.

In the past, EAs were assigned one-on-one to students with high needs. Today, we are being stretched thin—expected to do the work of two or three people without backup.

This is not just my story. This is happening in schools across the province.

The system is failing our children and burning out our educators. I am calling on the media, the public, and the government to pay attention. We need:

One-to-one EA support for children with special needs

Safe classrooms for students and staff

Respect for the professional role of EAs and ECEs

A system that protects—not exploits—the people who care for our youngest learners


This is a crisis. And silence is no longer an option.

I have a physics teacher grade 11, and it is so bad because we get marks back and we are never told about how we can succeed while doing a lab, and our teacher picks and chooses what to mark and it’s very frustrating because she will tell one group information and tell nobody else. We just want to succeed and it is very difficult when our teacher doesn’t want us to.

As an employee, this angers me to write this because this school was ONCE so so great!! To have a great school, you need a strong admin team who values the staff, and is empathetic & sensible. Also, part of maintaining a successful workplace is working where your admin team values your contributions and input. St.Annes is not this place. There is no appreciation from admin for the chaos we control, the kids that we love, the laughter and the teaching we give and the lives that we try to normalize while providing a save place for kids to be themselves!! I feel so undervalued as an EA. There are so many needs and not enough EAs or support for one on one. I feel parents are lied to, support is taken away from those who need it most with no communication to parents about this. I’ve been feeling unappreciated for all my efforts and contributions to the team. But I don’t need a medal, I’m just looking for respect, as I’m sure others are also. I’m proud of the work I do, But feeling deflated and unappreciated, hits hard below the belt. Knowing that admin doesn’t have your back is it really terrifying situation! Be careful don’t turn around, keep eye contact at all times when walking away. This is not a safe place, nope.

I’m listing all of the incidents that I’ve experienced (that I can remember )since the start of my EA journey in late 2017.

On a regular basis I am subjected to: slapping, kicking, punching, pinching, spitting, sworn & screamed at, pushing, foot stomping & head butting.
Occasionally I am subjected to: body slamming, biting, hair pulling & threats
Once I was slapped hard across the face, whipped with a gait belt across the face just below the eye and knocked in the head by a students head

Sadly I’ve witnessed several violent incidents against coworkers & students.
This is physically and mentally exhausting.

Thanks you for collecting our stories and hopefully shedding light on this crisis!