Ottawa-Carleton District School Board students, including those at Lisgar Collegiate, will have to wait to complete a survey about their personal life until a complaint about the survey has been investigated by the Ontario privacy commissioner.
A controversial survey by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, which has caused concern among students, has been delayed at the request of the Ontario privacy commissioner.
The voluntary and confidential survey was initially to be conducted from Nov. 22 to Dec. 10.
It is unknown how long the delay will be as the commissioner investigates a complaint about its content.
The survey is meant to help understand the diverse characteristics of the students and how the board can better support them so they can reach their maximum potential.
However, concerns have been raised about how effective the survey would be in providing information to help the students when personal questions about family education, ethnic background, sexual orientation and bullying are being asked.
Many students say the questions are too invasive and would not benefit the school board or aid in the lives of students.
Of 21 Lisgar Collegiate students interviewed, nine indicated they wouldn’t participate.
The others students said they probably would, even though some had privacy concerns. Some said they would possibly skip certain questions.
Ellen Huang, a Grade 10 student, said she feels the survey might help combat issues that students face nowadays, but there is one problem.
“The survey questions are broad, but are also trying to pick out specific races and their study habits. It seems to me that stereotyping could occur, but apart from that, it might help,” said Huang.
Rosie Chen, another Grade 10 student, said she isn’t sure how knowing what their parents' education levels and careers are would be beneficial.
Student Siswe Magnbane said he disagrees with the survey and would love to voice his opinion to the school board.
“It is too intrusive. It asks questions to young people about their sexuality and at 15, nobody is really sure who they are,” he said.
Joyce Mwandemange, a Grade 10 student, said she feels the questions are not a smart move.
“I don’t see why they are doing it. Some of the questions are really personal, like you and your family’s background and education . . . they don’t need to know that,” she says.
“I personally will not be doing the survey and I know a lot of people who will take it as a joke and purposely will change the answers just for the fun of it.”
Vincent Dragnea said questions on bullying might not result in students getting help.
“Discrimination may exist, but with bullying, how is the board going to help students with problems? The survey is anonymous so how will they be able to help a kid that is being bullied because of his or her race or maybe their sexual orientation,” said Dragnea.
While the board claims the results will be confidential, each survey is numbered and such numbers can in fact identify student names. This is also a part of the controversy surrounding the survey.
But not all students oppose the survey.
Kimia Foral said she feels the survey will help by giving the school information to change its ways of teaching and interacting with the students.
“Hopefully it might help them in altering the ways they teach here,” said Foral.
“I think it’s a bit controversial but I think it will establish a correlation between different aspects of a student’s life, but hopefully it might help those who do not feel comfortable in their school or a part of their school,” said John Welch, a Grade 11 student.
Public school trustee Jennifer McKenzie says the survey seeks to gather demographic information about the student population in order to better understand learning needs.
The survey data will be used for future program reviews and research.
“Boards of trustees are responsible not just for the academic achievement of students but also for their well-being.
Indeed, strong academic performance is built on a foundation of student well-being,” says McKenzie.
“A few of the questions seemed quite personal to me initially, but (I) have grown to understand the wide field of potential benefits of completing the survey.”