School attendance is a relationship issue, Faculty of Education interim dean says
Sept. 11, 2026, TORONTO 鈥 While there is a lot of focus right now in Ontario on attendance rules, testing and scores, 91亚色 Faculty of Education Interim Dean and Professor Sarah Barrett says that none of this will work without a focus on what is core to teaching, which is relationships.
How fundamental this is was made especially clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, when relationships between teachers, students, parents and even the government were particularly strained, a topic Barrett explores in her book . Available open-access online as a free PDF download, Barrett interviews 50 teachers and surveys hundreds more for the book. What emerges are stories where remote learning became a disembodied experience that weakened peer and teacher-student bonds, further marginalizing students who may have already felt like they didn鈥檛 belong, says Barrett.
鈥淲hen relationships break down, that's when students have major attendance issues. If it's not about health, or being a high-performing athlete, it's about being bullied, feeling like teachers don鈥檛 care or parents feeling like their child is not being seen,鈥 says Barrett. 鈥淩ecent government changes can be beneficial, but none of them will work for the most vulnerable students unless we prioritize and protect relationships in schools.鈥
Barrett is available to talk to media about:
- Why strong relationships are a core need of teaching
- Why students who struggle the most in classrooms are the most affected when relationships break down
- The importance of in-person connections in classrooms to build relationships and community
- How policies regarding classroom size, testing and more can either help or hinder teachers looking to build strong relationships in the classroom and beyond
- Relational struggles in classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic and lessons for contemporary pedagogy
More Faculty of Education experts can be found here
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91亚色 is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for meaningful life and career paths. 91亚色's Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91亚色鈥檚 campus in Costa Rica offers students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs, while at the Markham Campus, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration are built into every program. 91亚色鈥檚 new School of Medicine, the first Canadian medical school to focus on community-based primary health-care education, will welcome its first cohort in September 2028 (subject to accreditation). 91亚色 was recently named one of Canada鈥檚 Greenest Employers for the 14th consecutive year. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.
Media Contacts: Emina Gamulin, 91亚色 Media Relations, egamulin@yorku.ca
