No child should be punished for another’s behaviour. Children know from a very young age that this is wrong.

In classrooms across British Columbia, children are still disciplined for actions they didn’t commit. One student breaks a rule, and the whole group loses a privilege. A single mistake leads to collective correction. This is called collective punishment.

Though banned under Article 33 of the Geneva Conventions, collective punishment is still used in BC schools. It is not just unethical—it disproportionately harms neurodivergent, disabled, Black, Indigenous, and racialised students, who already face heightened surveillance and exclusion.

It doesn’t teach responsibility. It teaches fear. It teaches children that being near a neurodivergent or disruptive peer puts them at risk of getting in trouble and fuelling exclusion.

We call on the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care to:

1. Prohibit collective punishment through clear, enforceable policy
2. Train educators in inclusive, neurodiversity-affirming practices
3. Audit discipline methods and report violations publicly
4. Centre the voices of students and families most affected

Sign now to help end collective punishment in BC schools—and build classrooms rooted in fairness, dignity, and real accountability.

Learn more at: https://endcollectivepunishmentinschools.site