Civility and respect in schools

Developing a culture of civility in schools helps to create a healthy and caring learning environment, reduce conflicts and prepare students for becoming respectful and responsible citizens. It also encourages student well-being, positive mental health and educational success, while helping prevent situations of violence and bullying.

Civility in an educational context includes:

• the set of behaviours and attitudes that demonstrate respect for others, the rules, and the values of the community  
• the set of written and unwritten rules and the social norms that facilitate group life, allowing everyone access to a healthy, respectful and fair environment (refers to social cohesion, courtesy and community life)  
• participation, commitment and development of a sense of responsibility in order to create a classroom environment conducive to learning, contribute positively to school life, participate in school and extracurricular activities, take care of the resources provided and respect the school environment

At times, it can be perfectly normal to encounter difficulties. However, it is important to remember that you are not alone and should not hesitate to ask for help when you feel you need it. You can reach out to a trusted person in your life or at the school, but there are also many resources available to support you.  Here are a few examples of free resources:

Parents are their child’s first teacher and are important role models for them. The behaviours and attitudes of parents who support the school in creating a respectful and collaborative environment allow them to, among other things:

• encourage the child’s emotional well-being
• improve communication between the family and the school
• provide a role model of positive behaviour
• demonstrate that education is important

Different activities have been developed to help parents support their child’s development of civil behaviour.  

Well-being at school is essential to student development, educational success and student perseverance, as research has shown. To encourage well-being and prevent all forms of bullying and violence, an Anti-Bullying and Anti-Violence in Schools Plan (in French only) has been developed. As a result, various resources and initiatives have been put into place to create and maintain a healthy school climate.

The Bottin de ressources (PDF 1.01 Mb) lists different resources to meet the needs of various contexts. It was created in collaboration with a number of people in the network and education partners following consultation on the prevention of violence and bullying in schools. The goal of this consultation was to hear from people who work with students and learn about their needs, the difficulties encountered and the initiatives that had been carried out, in order to take stock of the current situation regarding violence experienced in schools.

The SUPPORT line is a free and confidential service providing support by phone to families and school teams affected by armed violence. In addition to phone support, this line also provides in-person and virtual support groups that prevent isolation and allow similar experiences to be shared. Its website also provides a directory of resources adapted to different situations involving armed violence.