After massive brawl and an assault on a teacher, Quebec education minister pressured to address violence in schools
CTV
After a string of violent incidents at Quebec schools this week, including a massive brawl involving more than 100 students on Montreal's South Shore, the province's education minister said he is 'concerned' by what he sees in school settings.
After a string of violent incidents at Quebec schools this week, including a massive brawl involving more than 100 students on Montreal's South Shore, the province's education minister said he is "concerned" by what he sees in school settings.
"Violence has no place in schools. We denounce all acts of violence. We are currently working on a strategy to better prevent and fight against violence and bullying in schools," Florence Plourde, the press attaché for Education Minster Bernard Drainville, wrote in a brief statement to CTV News on Friday.
The minister announced in March that he was preparing the strategy and is now facing renewed pressure from the opposition to deliver, and to take violence in schools more seriously.
On Friday, Longueuil police were called to disperse a large crowd outside the Antoine-Brossard High School in Brossard, Que. A video on social media showed several students exchanging blows and throwing objects, and at one point, someone could be seen spraying an unknown substance, possibly perfume, into the crowd.
Five minors were injured, and one was sent to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made, but the police investigation is ongoing.
A day earlier, on Montreal's North Shore, classes had almost been let out for the day when a 13-year-old student allegedly assaulted her 65-year-old teacher with a chair in the classroom.
The incident happened at École secondaire l’Odyssée-des-Jeunes in Laval. The student could face charges of assault with a weapon.
