Protests supporting teachers were loud but parents want the government to hear their message.
Thursday morning human chains surrounded over 350 schools across the province to demonstrate against cuts to education.
Parents say teacher’s pressure tactics are hurting their kids- but they’re worth it.
“What they need to do to stir action is to take something they love away,” said Tanya Van Blokland, a parent at Saint Paul Elementary in Beaconsfield. “I think it’s the only tool they have to fight with.”
Since the beginning of the school year teachers have been on a work-to-rule campaign and cutting back on extracurricular activities. Protesting is one of the ways that parents can make their voices heard in negotiations they are not a part of.
“It’s frustrating because we want our kids to have that support and all the free things teachers provide like corrections on their lunch, helping on the extracurriculars- there was supposed to be a school play but this year we can’t but we do understand these are the only pressure tactics available to them,” said Jill Edgar, a parent at Saint Anthony Elementary.
Teachers are fighting the government’s proposed increase in class sizes and cuts to pensions.
While the conflict is between the government and the teachers it’s the students who are feeling the effects.
“We don’t have any school trips anymore. It’s a little sad but I mean, I don’t like it,” said 6th grade student Sydney Cook.
“They’re not paying them enough because they think they’re only working 32 hours a week but they’re working way more than that,” said 3rd grader Harper Bronte-Bodanis.
“The protect my public school” movement started in the spring at the same time as teachers and the government began negotiations in view of renewing teachers’ collective agreement.
Since then the movement has grown. Their last protest was on September 1st and had about 21 000 protestors come together across the province.
“It’s amazing to see them come out for us,” said teacher Linda Homsy. “We feel supported you know which is different from some of the other protests we’ve had. Everyone is one our side so we’re happy about that.”
Rotating strike days are planned in the coming month for six English school boards and two CEGEPs.
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