The Quebec government unveils measures to combat the “toxic climate” in a Montreal school – Montreal

Corrective measures are underway to combat a “toxic climate” of fear and intimidation at a French-speaking elementary school in Montreal.

The Quebec Ministry of Education has named two monitors who began working Tuesday at the Bedford school, in the multicultural district of Côte-des-Neiges, who must report before November 30.

The province’s measures follow a report released last week concluding that there was a “dominant clan” of teachers who imposed a strict autocratic regime on students.

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The government report says children are subjected to physical and psychological violence and that teachers refuse to teach or pay little attention to subjects such as oral communication, science, religion and sex education.

Quebec launched its investigation after half a dozen radio reports from 98.5 FM on the problematic climate at school.

Eleven teachers suspected of engaging in worrying behavior will be investigated to determine whether they committed serious misconduct and whether or not their teaching certificates should be suspended or revoked.

Education Minister Bernard Drainville has ordered audits at three other schools — two primary schools and a secondary school — under the governance of the same service center as Bedford, and which are believed to have similar problems.