POINTE-CLAIRE – Adamo Hartley has looked forward to the sixth grade ever since he started kindergarten at Saint John Fisher Elementary School in Pointe-Claire.
The 11-year-old said the school stages an elaborate school play and drama is his favourite subject.
The students go on a class trip, fun extracurricular activities and attend a special graduation ceremony.
But all of that has been cancelled this year because of a work-to-rule campaign from his teachers.
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“It’s making school not really enjoyable because all the stuff that made school fun, well it’s gone,” Hartley told Global News.
He said he and his friends even tried organizing activities on their own.
Last week, they got enough kids together to start a ball hockey game at lunchtime, but were soon told they couldn’t play because no teachers were available to supervise.
“It was supposed to be their first game but they couldn’t do it and all their hard work was for nothing, ” said Hartley.
He said some students were left disappointed with their teachers.
“I know it’s not their fault,” he said.
“I feel bad for them because they have to put up with us being angry and it’s very hard on them.”
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After the ball hockey incident, Hartley turned to his mother to say how upset he was with how the school year was going.
She encouraged him to write a letter to his local MNA Geoffrey Kelley.
He wrote an impassioned, imploring letter, telling him:
“I want you to know that contract negotiations between your government and our teachers is ruining my last year of elementary school.”
“For example, increasing class sizes makes no sense. You should come and sit in on one of my classes.”
Hartley’s mother Josie Campisi posted the letter to her Facebook page Thursday afternoon and it swiftly spread through the digital world.
Within 24 hours, almost 1,000 people liked the letter and another 1,200 shared it.
“He seemed to feel helpless,” Campisi said.
“This is an exercise, yes, you aren’t an adult you aren’t able to vote, but with social media, you can be heard.”
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Geoffrey Kelley responded to Hartley’s concerns in a letter. He started by first thanking Hartley for writing and applauding his involvement in such an important issue.
Kelley told Hartley he understood how important teacher’s are in our society.
“Before entering politics, I was a teacher, and my wife Judy recently retired after 38 years in the classroom,” he said. “She and her colleagues have helped many students throughout the years including those with special needs.”
Kelley also explained that as a father of five, who sent all his children to public school in the West Island he recognizes what is at stake.
He remains hopeful that the government will reach an agreement with the teachers in the near future and that Hartley will soon be able to enjoy his school year to the fullest.
Kelley invited the sixth grader to get in touch with his office so they could arrange to meet in person to discuss the issue.
Adamo is encouraging other students to also write letters.
They plan on delivering them to Kelly on Oct. 29 – the first day of a planned strike in the English school boards.
“I would like to let kids know they can be heard and for them to know who is the real cause of this,” Hartley said.
“I just like for the government to know they are ruining the future for us.”
Hartley remains hopeful the impasse with teachers will end, and his Grade 6 year will be one to remember.
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