Reducing EA Support Hours = Discrimination
R.B. v. Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, 2013 HRTO 1436 This case is about the school district reducing a student’s Education Assistant (EA) support hours who was doing well with the EA support. The student originally had a full-time EA, and the district cut the time in half. The reduction in support hours led to an […]
Strong Advocacy = Written Authority
School staff have a lot of discretion and power in decision-making related to our children. Not just to their learning but to their socialization. This is given to them by the School Act, other collective agreements, and even human rights decisions uphold their expertise. At the same time, many of them lack knowledge in education […]
Accountability in Education – Government Action Needed
Accountability is extremely important in education. People who are the decision makers in children’s education have a lot of power. Their decisions have a direct impact on children’s development, learning, and mental health. Make the wrong decision, and it could send a child on the trajectory of self-harm, suicide, lifelong struggles with unemployment, mental health […]
“We Deny Each and Every Allegation”
When you file a human rights complaint, and if it gets accepted, you will receive an email notifying you that your complaint is proceeding. The school will get the email as well. This is the first time they will be contacted by the BC Human Rights Tribunal. They will have an opportunity to submit a […]
Improper Conduct – Hiding Disclosure
There is a new human rights decision out today, and it is not education-related. BUT, there is a part of this decision that I do want to highlight because what this person experiences is something parents need to be aware of. I struggled with disclosure issues. What a fight! Even if they tell you they […]
Access to Information in Education – Privacy Rights
Parents in BC are restricted to information that other parents have access to in other provinces in Canada. Two examples: Legal Fees Parents of Carter Churchill won a human rights complaint against the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District (full Case here). They submitted an Freedom of Information request (FOI) and they got the complete […]
Neufeld Litigation History
Some people say that one person can’t make a difference. Well, this is an example of how untrue that statement is. One person can make a difference. This one person is so discriminatory, hateful and abusive towards a specific community of beautiful people that he has created the most glorious legal decisions that will help […]
Advocating for Systemic Change
There is a comedian out there who has a really smart and funny skit. “People will die for their country, but they wont do math for their country.” Dying for your country is easy, doing math is hard. In concept, heading out into battle for your country is glamorous. People have statues built on their […]
How to Gather Evidence for the BC Human Rights Tribunal
Here are some options to consider. Gathering evidence is VERY important. It will make the school district and their lawyers very uncomfortable. They will not like it, and it could help you get that settlement you are looking for. It communicates to the lawyers that you are preparing for a hearing. They will also be […]
Riddle: Who has the final decision-making power?
Here is the riddle. .So, who has the final decision making power? Who contributes their input into the cost-risk analysis of parents? School districts? – relying on lawyers for their expertise and law analysis and also relying on the SPP for insurance coverage. Doesn’t sound like they are ones with most sway in this decision […]
