LASTING LEGACY | B.C. Winter Games will provide long-term investment for region [A4]
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Sunday, March 4, 2012
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Students send Victoria message RICHARD ROLKE
being directly affected.” Shaver denies suggestions stuStudents insist they won’t be left dents may have been influenced by on the sidelines as B.C.’s education teachers to protest or they may not system continues to be mired in understand the issues fully. conflict. “We’ve tried very hard to make Classes at W.L. Seaton, sure people know what’s going on Kalamalka and Vernon secondary and why we’re out here,” he said. schools were abandoned Friday as At VSS, placards were evident students rallied in support of teach- along both 15th and 18th streets. ers’ bargaining position against the “The government is taking a lot government. of money away from classes,” said “They’re not listening to teach- Zoe McNair, who is in Grade 11. ers so maybe they will listen to us,” “Big class sizes don’t work.” said Megan Fretz, who is in Grade For many of those who left 12 at VSS. classes, they admit they are tired “It’s our education.” of the war of words between the The largest rally was at Seaton, teachers and the government and where close to they want the focus 200 students to be on students’ waved signs and needs. caught the atten“I hope there will tion of motorists be more of a comon 27th Street. promise so we’re “Education not losing a lot,” affects our said Keryn Young, in future,” said Grade 8 at VSS, of an Claire Stanhope, eventual settlement. a Grade 11 stuSome students dent, who says insist that politicians cutbacks are and the public have noticeable. been too focused on “ W e ’ r e teachers’ calls for a cramped in our 15 per cent wage classes. Teachers increase over three JENNIFER SMITH/MORNING STAR are knocking over years. our bags (as they Grade 12 student Melanee “It’s not a money walk around) Bryniawsky protests in front of issue,” said Melanee and sometimes Kalamalka Secondary Friday. Bryniawsky, a we have to share Grade 12 studesks if all of the dent at Kalamalka kids are there.” Secondary, who gathered along Stanhope says course selection McClounie Road. has also shrunk. “It’s an issue of class size. How “Kids are sitting in the halls when can we learn in large classes? they should be in class because they Funding isn’t being given to educasigned up for Spanish and Spanish tion in general.” was cancelled,” she said. Bryniawsky suggests that discusWesley Shaver, who is in Grade sions around class size and compo12 at Seaton, organized a Facebook sition be handled separately from page and urged his peers to get wages so those matters that coninvolved. cern students’ learning are resolved “As students, we’ve seen the quickly. effects of what the government is For many of the Kal students, doing,” he said. personal relationships with the “We want to show we care. We’re teachers are important. Morning Star Staff
JENNIFER SMITH/MORNING STAR
Grade 11 student Thunder Mitchell (above) and Grade 12 student April Trigg (below) join about 200 people rallying for teachers at W.L. Seaton Secondary Friday. See video and slide show at vernonmorningstar.com “All of the coaches help us and they are a huge influence in our lives. We owe it to them,” said Kaely Johnson, who is in Grade 10. The students who left class to rally Friday were observed by administration, largely to ensure safety. “All will be marked absent and their parents will be informed that they missed the last period,” said Joe Rogers, the Vernon School District’s director of instruction. No disciplinary action will be taken against the students, and Rogers says the matter is being left to families to address. “Hopefully they had permission from their parents.” While students were supposed to be in class, Rogers admits that developing social and political interests is also part of being a youth. “They’re out here to show support for a solution and to have the best school they can,” he said. Teachers in all school districts will be on strike Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Parents are asked not to send their children to school and buses will not be operating those three days.
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