Thousands of students across the Province of B.C. are showing their frustration with the teacher’s rotating job action. The students of Edward Milne community school and Journey middle school joined together by participating in a walkout on Wednesday, June 4.
Organized by the students, many told me they want to take control and have a voice. Students, like me, are being put in the crossfire between schools and government and we are the ones suffering.
One student carried a sign stating, “Education is NOT a business.” Seniors are affected the most because of the interference with final exams, grading and post-secondary applications. There is no extra help between or after class and even in class.
I am in Grade 10 and spent a month writing and editing a short story but marking has been delayed. Let’s not even talk about rewriting a test!
EMCS Principal Mr. Patrick Swinburnson said, “I do applaud those students who are genuinely attempting to support their teachers, but I can’t condone them for missing classes. Perhaps an alternative would have been to join the teachers on the picket line on Friday. That way they would show their support without missing classes.”
But it’s more complicated than that. On the other side, a parent told me she fully supports the students 100 per cent and has three kids. She questions whether the teachers care about the education of the future generation and have been fighting with the government for years.
We all know and look forward to summer coming in a few weeks but not if it is going to cost the students our whole semester or year of school.
Ayla Chauvin
Grade 10
EMCS