Nova Scotia parents, students rally outside schools in support of teachers

Parents and students across Nova Scotia rallied outside the province’s schools Monday morning in support of their teachers.

The government announced Saturday it would be closing schools to students Monday morning in response to the Nova Scotia Teachers Union‘s plan to work-to-rule on that same day.

READ MORE: Nova Scotia parents say children being used as ‘pawns’ in political chess match

Teachers are still going to work and many were applauded as people rallied outside their schools Monday morning, including parents, caregivers and students themselves who greeted teachers as they arrived at Astral Drive Elementary School in Cole Harbour.

“I’m upset because we should get to go to school,” said Grade 4 student Marissa Clarke.

Shari McKeough is a single parent whose child has special needs. She said teachers have played an important role in her son’s life.

“He has been in this school since Grade Primary. He has ADHD and anxiety, very, very severe. We’ve had to actually use medications to help him out. The most help we’ve gotten from anyone at the IWK, the medical professions, is from Astral Drive Elementary.”

Many parents, like McKeough, say they are upset with how the provincial government is handling the labour dispute with teachers.

“We need to be a voice to support our teachers, support our unions and we’re not taking this anymore,” she said.

Despite there being no children in school, teachers still showed up for work and even conducted yard duty as required.

“I’m very much in support of the teachers and what they need — support in the classroom and less paperwork. The paperwork takes so much away from actual teaching,” said Gail Stevens, who recently retired from teaching after 23 years.

WATCH: Parents and students rallied outside closed schools across Nova Scotia Monday in support of their teachers, who have been in a labour dispute with the government.

0:45 Nova Scotia parents, students rally outside closed schools in support of teachers

A petition calling for the resignation of Premier Stephen McNeil and Education Minister Karen Casey was signed by people of all ages at the rally.

“Everyone is pretty disgusted with this last move,” said McKeough.

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“They’re not listening — they’re not listening to what our teachers need. They’re not listening to what our families need and our kids need. For them to blatantly force these teachers back to work and not have the support of everyone else around them is just not right.”

“If you start divesting in the kids, what do we have left? Honestly, in the next few years, it’s going to be too late to change what decisions they are making today. They need to know we stand behind our teachers and our teachers are supporting our kids,” said parent Amanda Clarke.