Education Rights and Responsibilities
Rules set out by the Province of Ontario and all schools help make a safe learning environment for everyone. Parents, students, teachers, and staff have many responsibilities. They also have many rights and freedoms. Good communication between teachers, staff, students, and parents is important.
As a parent or student, if you have questions about your responsibilities, rights, and freedoms, you can speak to a(n):
- Teacher, guidance counsellor, or principal
- Employee of the school’s human rights office
- Trustee from the school board,
- Employee of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
The information below lists different responsibilities and rights.
Student Conduct and Bullying
Schools have codes of conduct for students, teachers and other staff to keep dangerous behaviour out of our schools. No one may assault, intimidate, or harass another student.
Schools also have rules about what students do online, so that there is no cyber-bullying (bullying by email, text-messaging or other ways over the internet).
Discrimination
Discrimination or harassment is unacceptable. The Ontario Human Rights Code lists 15 types of discrimination. No one may discriminate based on:
- Race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, or citizenship
- Religion
- Gender or age
- Sexual orientation or marital status (including same-sex partners)
- Disability
- Family status or needing public assistance (Ontario Works)
- Criminal background.
Freedom of Speech
Students, teachers, staff, and parents have the right to free speech, but they must not:
- Threaten
- Discriminate
- Harass
Cheating and Plagiarism
There are strict rules for students about cheating and plagiarism. Plagiarism means copying or stealing someone else's ideas or work and presenting it as your own. You must give credit when you use someone else’s work.
Religious Observances
Schools allow for religious observances, such as holy days. School staff need to know which days of the year are holy days for you.
Dealing with Conflict
There are many ways to deal with conflict.
- Talk to a teacher, guidance counsellor, the principal, a trustee from the school board, staff from the human rights department, or someone you trust.
- Get involved with school councils that make decisions on rules and codes of conduct.
- Make a complaint to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, or a human rights advocate or lawyer.
For more information…