WATCH ABOVE: A culture of “Don’t Snitch” highlighted in school safety report. The report was commissioned by the Toronto Catholic District School board in the wake of the shooting deaths of two students near a school. Christina Stevens reports.
TORONTO — A report commissioned by the Toronto Catholic District School Board has pointed to a problematic student culture of “don’t snitch.”
The school board wanted to take a closer look at school safety after two of its students were shot to death in a park near Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School.
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Zaid Athir Youssef and Michael Menjivar were gunned down Oct. 6, 2014.
The “Safe Schools Inquiry Panel Report” has made 33 recommendations. Among them is encouraging students to report concerns to a trusted adult.
The panel found “The ‘Don’t Snitch’ ethos is a significant barrier to school safety.”
“Many of the students want to take responsibility within the schools and tell somebody to keep it safe. They have fears about their personal safety if they do so,” said Paul Crawford.
Crawford, a former superintendent with the TCDSB, chaired the panel.
Sharon Joseph with Breakaway Relief Care works with families in crisis. She conducts workshops at schools dealing with the concept of “snitching” and said she has heard about a fear of retribution from students.
She said they get threatened.
“It happens, people bullying them and they don’t speak. Some of the kids say, ‘Well, when I go to the principal, the principal will think I am in the situation,” said Joseph.
The panel also found many students don’t believe the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line really is anonymous. They suggested finding other ways students can report, such as developing an App for their phones.
The family of one of the victims had called for metal detectors in schools. The panel considered, but ultimately rejected, the idea.
“Can you imagine a school of 1,400 or 1,500 students coming in at an 8:45 a.m. bell time and they have metal detectors and guards on the doors?” said Crawford.
Still, some students said it wouldn’t be a bad idea.
“Nowadays people are bringing like, knives and guns to school, so I think it would be good if they had metal detectors, more safety. I’ve seen knives, yeah, people they say they carry it for safety reasons,” said one boy in Grade 10 who didn’t want to be named.
The panel wants the school board to spend money on fixing and updating security cameras. One security expert said that is the right move.
“It gives people another thought; if I do a crime my image will be put up and there’s a good chance someone will report me,” said Chris Menary, with Menary Group.
Overall though, several students at Don Bosco told Global News they already feel safe at their school.
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