Submission I – Breaking the Silence

When one chooses to turn a blind eye to a situation, others emulate this neglect. This ignorance sets a precedent––a chain reaction where the reluctance to confront issues becomes normalized. Conversely, when an individual finally musters the courage to speak out or break the silence, it ignites bravery in others––this creates change. These actions, both commendable and detrimental, accentuate the interconnectedness of human behaviour. Our personal choices affect the collective psyche, reminding us of the responsibility we all hold. Our words are powerful, and our actions pivotal.

Before breaking the silence, one must first assess their environment; in our case, a Catholic High school situated in Hamilton, Ontario. Understanding the unique values and beliefs of a community is important in order to truly educate ourselves and others. By identifying the issues that resonate with the community and those that may be deemed less significant, we can tailor our approach to encourage meaningful dialogue and promote understanding among all students.

We began by asking a Bishop Ryan student about their thoughts on what makes certain global issues pressing and substantial.

I think a global issue becomes important as soon as it damages the quality of life for a group of people. I think that everyone deserves to have their basic human rights met, and when global issues directly deny those rights, that is when I believe an issue can be considered pressing and substantial.

Following this question, our club conducted a survey focused on social injustices and world issues to the teenage eye; 100 students of Bishop Ryan filled it out.

Social Injustices

Students ranked injustices on a scale where 10 represents very important and 1 represents not so important.

Racial Discrimination • 8.79 / 10

African/Black students: 9.02/10, Asian students: 8.42/10, European/White students: 8.45, Hispanic/Latino students: 7.95/10, Pacific Islander students: 9.12/10

Sexual Harassment • 8.42 / 10

Male students: 8.63/10, Female students 8.2/10

Sexism • 8.12 / 10

Male students: 6.91/10, Female students: 9.41/10

Cultural Appropriation • 7.90 / 10

African/Black students: 8.04/10, Asian students: 7.66/10, European/White students: 7.15, Hispanic/Latino students: 8.2/10, Pacific Islander students: 8.32/10

Religious Intolerance • 7.85 / 10

African/Black students: 7.98/10, Asian students: 8.8/10, European/White students: 7.76, Hispanic/Latino students: 7.3/10, Pacific Islander students: 8.45/10

Elder Abuse • 7.78 / 10

Junior grades: 7.91/10, Senior grades: 7.66/10

LGBTQ+ Rights • 4.08 / 10

Male students: 3.12/10, Female students: 4.28/10

We asked students about their familiarity with the concept of social injustice; the results are as follow:

• Very familiar: 24%

• Somewhat familiar: 51%

• Not very familiar: 14%

• Not familiar at all: 11%

Bishop Ryan students revealed whether they have witnessed or experienced discrimination in the school community; the results are as follows:

• Witnessed or experienced discrimination: 79%

• Did not witness or experience discrimination: 12%

• Prefer not to answer: 9%

World Issues

Students ranked global issues on a scale where 10 represents very important and 1 represents not so important.

Human Rights Violations • 8.81 / 10

African/Black students: 8.21/10, Asian students: 8.91/10, European/White students: 8.52/10, Hispanic/Latino students: 8.31/10, Pacific Islander students: 9.21/10

Child Labour • 8.70 / 10

African/Black students: 8.99, Asian students: 9.21/10, European/White students: 8.32/10, Hispanic/Latino students: 8.33/10, Pacific Islander students: 8.71/10

Poverty • 8.20 / 10

African/Black students: 8.08/10, Asian students: 7.27/10, European/White students: 9.52/10, Hispanic/Latino students: 8.19/10, Pacific Islander students: 9.21/10

Access to Clean Water • 8.03 / 10

African/Black students: 8.21/10, Asian students: 8.91/10, European/White students: 8.52/10, Hispanic/Latino students: 8.31/10, Pacific Islander students: 9.21/10

Global Health Issues • 7.98 / 10

African/Black students: 7.28, Asian students: 7.25/10, European/White students: 8.11/10, Hispanic/Latino students: 8.95/10, Pacific Islander students: 8.41/10

Refugee Crisis • 7.75 / 10

African/Black students: 8.21/10, Asian students: 7.64/10, European/White students: 7.12/10, Hispanic/Latino students: 7.61/10, Pacific Islander students: 8.72/10

Gender Inequality • 6.80  / 10

Male students: 6.15/10 Female students: 7.82/10

Mental Health • 5.77 / 10

Male students: 5.68/10, Female students: 7.91/10

We asked the students of Bishop Ryan how informed they feel about current global events, the results are as follows:

• Very informed: 25%

• Informed: 46%

• Somewhat informed: 22%

• Not at all informed: 7%

The last question of this survey asked whether Bishop Ryan is doing a good job at promoting social justice and educating students on world issues. The survey found that, on a scale where 10 represents fantastic and 1 represents terrible, students rated it 3.18 out of 10. The survey results clearly highlight the importance of continuous assessment in educational spaces. When we seek feedback from others, that is when we can identify our areas of weakness and implement strategies to address them.

In the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, we must all look into societal issues and acknowledge the vulnerabilities within our community. By educating ourselves on these matters, we unite in a shared purpose of advocacy and progress.

I think it’s important to educate ourselves and talk to one another on world issues and injustices because awareness to these topics leads to understanding and taking action. When we learn about these problems, like child labour and discrimination, we can work together to find solutions and make the world a fair place for everyone. Understanding these issues helps us love all our neighbours and motivates us to work towards a better and equal future for all.

This quote, stated by a freshmen at Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School highlights the need to talk about these issues. Our club understands that talking about these problems may be uncomfortable, but it is because they are uncomfortable that we must bring awareness. We, as Canadians, must work together, learn from our mistakes, and figure out solutions that benefit all.

When one chooses to take notice, others will show no disregard.

When one educates themselves on the problems in this world, others will emulate.

When one puts words into action, others will be inspired.

When one speaks out and breaks the silence, others will follow, and spread the truth.

You can control the environment you are in, all you have to do is step up.