When did filling out a survey become so difficult?
The decision by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board to have its students complete a survey that asks, among other things, their sexual orientation, has caused an uproar.
The school board has argued that collecting demographic information about a wide range of things will help them learn about students and better meet their needs.That would seem reasonable, however the Ontario privacy commissioner thinks otherwise. As a result, the survey has been postponed while a complaint is investigated.
How else is a school board supposed to improve its policies and student experience? Rely on anecdotal evidence?
Surely a comprehensive survey of this kind is better than mere hearsay.And it’s not like Ottawa is the first place to conduct a survey of this kind. The Toronto District School Board conducted a student census in 2006 and 2007. It asked similarly personal questions, including some about sexual orientation and students’ home lives.
That survey led to policy changes in Toronto and school board advisers there say it let principals better understand their schools. Many students told the board they felt they would do better academically if there was more acceptance of their social and cultural identities.
Yet there is still opposition in Ottawa.
Many groups, including parents and students, have problems with the surveys. And the sexual orientation question is a common concern.
Sexual orientation is always a contentious issue. You could argue it shouldn’t be in this day and age, but regardless not everyone is comfortable discussing it.
Whether they should or shouldn’t be isn’t the point.
Everyone may have a different opinion about the merits of asking about sexual orientation. Some groups have argued the board has no right to ask such invasive questions – even in light of the benefits in Toronto.
Sure, an 11-year-old student – those in Grade 7 – may not be comfortable answering, or even understand answering questions about sexual orientation. Students in Grade 12 might not either for that matter.
But let’s take a closer look at the question.
The students are asked to identify their sexual orientation from a list. The list includes bisexual, gay, heterosexual, lesbian, queer, questioning, transsexual, two-spirited and “prefer not to disclose.” There. Done.
If someone doesn’t want to answer, that’s an easy way to deal with it.
And keep this in mind – the survey is completely voluntary.
While it’s true that parents of students in Grades 7 to 12 must provide written proof that they don’t want their child to participate at all, if a student is uncomfortable with a question they can just leave it and move on to the next one.
That’s not to say that the survey is flawless. For some reason, it’s not completely anonymous. It doesn’t have a name, but does have a number, which could theoretically be traced back to a student.
If the sole purpose is to collect information, that’s hardly necessary, But if people are as uncomfortable with the survey as it seems it won’t matter – they should all come back blank anyway.