Prohibition of swearing oaths and cell phone usage enforced in all educational institutions
Fresh Take:
Quebec's Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, proposes a shift in school culture starting January 2026, emphasizing politeness, respect, and formal language use to combat bullying. This move has sparked various reactions, with teachers questioning their professional autonomy and parents embracing the change.
At a press conference, Minister Drainville emphasized the importance of fostering a respectful environment for children, stating, "School is for our students. They're the ones suffering from bullying and violent acts in our schools, as well as school staff."
The new school code of life entails students saying "thank you," using "vous" with teachers, and addressing them as "Monsieur" and "Madame." Minister Drainville stressed, "The use of 'vous' will become the norm in all Quebec schools," and hopes to establish a culture of respect.
Teachers' unions view this move as an attack on their professional autonomy. Richard Bergevin, president of the Federation of Quebec Teachers' Unions, believes decisions about teacher-student interactions should be left to their discretion. Melanie Hubert, president of the Autonomous Federation of Teachers, echoes this sentiment, calling for better consultation with the community.
On the other hand, the Federation of Quebec Parents Committees (FCPQ) welcomes this change, with president Melanie Laviolette seeing it as a way to create a more respectful atmosphere for children.
To enforce the new code of life, school directors may impose sanctions on students who violate it. These may involve writing apology letters, performing school services, or doing community service. Parental involvement is also encouraged to support this initiative.
In addition, starting autumn 2025, cell phones will be banned at school to combat bullying, improve students' success, and enhance their social lives.
Behind the Lines
Quebec's educational policies often reflect broader societal debates about language, culture, and identity. The government's push for French language use is evident in the Language Law Bill 96 and the Secularism Bill 94, which aims to reinforce secularism in schools. The controversy surrounding formal language use can be viewed as part of these ongoing debates.
- The proposed school culture shift by Quebec's Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, for January 2026, includes implementing politeness, respect, and formal French language use in classrooms to combat bullying, a move reminiscent of broader societal debates about language, culture, and identity.
- In reactions to this proposal, teachers' unions like the Federation of Quebec Teachers' Unions, led by President Richard Bergevin, express concern over the government's apparent attack on their professional autonomy, arguing that decisions about teacher-student interactions should remain at their discretion.
- Countering the concerns of teachers, the Federation of Quebec Parents Committees (FCPQ), headed by Melanie Laviolette, welcomes the change, viewing it as a means to create a more respectful atmosphere for children in Quebec schools starting 2026.
- This policy-and-legislation focused shift towards formal language use and politeness in schools is set to gain momentum with the upcoming general-news events such as the implementation of cell phone bans in schools starting autumn 2025 and the completion of Language Law Bill 96 and the Secularism Bill 94 in Quebec politics by 2024.
