A student’s disruptive behavior led a teacher to clear the classroom, causing a disturbance in the learning environment for all students.
The Surrey District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) has introduced a new online tool called the Room Clear Tracker. This tool enables educators and caregivers, including parents, to monitor the frequency of classroom clearings.
The primary objective of the Room Clear Tracker is to gather data that will provide insights into how often classroom disruptions occur, who is impacted, and to identify lacking systemic supports that could prevent such incidents.
DPAC president Anne Whitmore highlighted that the tool sheds light on a flawed system that places undue pressure on teachers to clear classrooms.
According to Whitmore, issues like inadequate support for students with special needs, a shortage of education assistants, and classrooms where staff struggle to manage challenging behaviors are contributing factors to classroom clearings.
Instances where students engage in disruptive behaviors like yelling, throwing objects, or even flipping furniture often prompt teachers to clear the classroom.
Whitmore emphasized that classroom clearings are more common than people realize and that the true extent of student exclusion and learning disruptions often go unrecorded.
She expressed that clearing a classroom amounts to exclusion for every student present, not just the one whose behavior triggered the incident. Transparency is crucial to addressing this issue effectively.
The launch of the Room Clear Tracker coincides with Community Inclusion Month and advocates for the necessity of smaller class sizes and increased educational support in schools throughout the province.
Amrit Sanghe, president of the Surrey Teachers’ Association, noted that classroom clearings signify a system failure rather than a student issue. This initiative advocates for smaller classes, enhanced support systems, and resources to promote genuine inclusion in educational settings.
The DPAC clarified that the Room Clear Tracker is intended to track and document instances of “hidden exclusions” without assigning blame to individual students.
Whitmore emphasized that the initiative is a compassionate response to support struggling students, alleviate staff exhaustion, and facilitate positive changes within school communities.
In addition to the Room Clear Tracker, a separate investigation by the B.C. Ombudsperson is underway to examine exclusionary practices in public schools.
The Room Clear Tracker is now accessible statewide as of Monday, offering a comprehensive tool to monitor and address classroom disruptions.