Human Rights

Our Commitment to Inclusive Learning and Working Environments

The Greater Essex County District School Board is committed to building inclusive learning and working environments where all students and staff feel valued, accepted and know they belong. No student should be harmed by the words or actions of others at school. All members of our board community should feel safe, welcome, accepted and included at every GECDSB school and work site.

In keeping with these values, the following conduct will not be tolerated at GECDSB schools or in GECDSB environments:

• discrimination;
• harassment and bullying;
• the proliferation of hate;
• the use of the n-word;
• the use of any hateful slurs or epithets; and
• reprisal (retaliation) for trying to have an incident addressed.

Students are not allowed to say, write or read out any version of the n-word (including with the “a” ending) and are not allowed to ask for a "pass” from Black students to use the n-word. GECDSB staff have also received direction that they are not allowed to say or read out the n-word.

Please talk to your child(ren) and make them aware that the conduct listed above is not allowed – this includes on social media or in any other context that can negatively impact the school environment.

Our students have a right to safe, respectful, and non-discriminatory learning environments. Students or parents/guardians who hear or learn about hateful or discriminatory acts or language should report it to the school principal, vice-principal or another staff member right away.  When these incidents happen, they are treated seriously and addressed by the school/board.

For more information on addressing school-based concerns, please see our webpage on Reporting Human Rights Concerns Impacting Students.

Process for Students, Parents/Guardians, and GECDSB Community Members

The Greater Essex County District School Board is committed to building inclusive learning environments where all students feel valued, accepted and know they belong. No student should be harmed by the words or actions of others at school.

If you experience, witness, or become aware of a human rights concern including discrimination, harassment/bullying, racism, a slur, a hate incident or hate crime, please report it to a GECDSB employee or principal.

Step 1: Talk to your classroom teacher or other trusted adult at the school. If your concern was not resolved, move to step 2.

Step 2: Raise your concern with the school principal or vice-principal. When possible, follow up with an email or written account of your discussion, and what resolution was agreed upon. If your issue was not resolved, move to step 3.

Step 3: Raise your concern with your school superintendent. Your superintendent’s name is shown on your school website and you can find their contact information here. If your issue was not resolved, move to step 4.

Step 4: If the human rights concern is about a superintendent or if your concern was not resolved at step 3, contact the Human Rights and Equity System Advisor (HRESA). Alternatively, you may contact the Superintendent of Human Resources or the Director of Education.

What happens when a human rights concern is raised?

At the school level, school administrators (principals/vice principals) have primary responsibility for fully addressing human rights concerns.

Any GECDSB employee who witnesses or otherwise becomes aware of a human rights concern must immediately report it to the school principal or vice-principal, or next level supervisor not involved or implicated in the incident.

• Ontario College of Teachers Professional Advisory on Anti-Black Racism
• GECDSB Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Background Report and Strategy

• Ontario Human Rights Commission Policy on preventing discrimination based on creed

• Ontario Human Rights Commission Policy on ableism and discrimination based on disability
• Introduction to the Duty to Accommodate People with Disabilities – David Lepofsky
• Tips for Parents of Students with Disabilities on How to Advocate For Your Child’s Needs at School – David Lepofsky

• Equity and Inclusive Education Policy and Regulation
• ETFO Social Justice Page

• Gender Identity and Expression – Student Records Regulation
• Ontario Human Rights Commission Policy on preventing discrimination because of gender identity and gender expression

• Indigenous Education

• The provincial government has updated the Professional Misconduct Regulation of the Ontario College of Teachers Act to include “making remarks or engaging in behaviours that expose any person or class of persons to hatred on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination under Part I of the Human Rights Code.”