THUNDER BAY – The government may have floated the idea of cancelling or moving March Break, but educators in Thunder Bay aren’t having any part of it.
Mike Judge, president of the Thunder Bay local of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, on Thursday said the possibility, suggested by Education Minister Stephen Lecce, said he sees no reason behind the decision, should it be made at some point next week.
And his membership is furious.
“All education groups are strongly opposed to even moving or manipulating March Break in any way,” Judge said on Thursday.
“If we’re going to get serious about the mental health of students and staff, we need to recognize what the temperature of the room is right now. Teachers are stressed. Educators are stressed. Students are stressed. The last thing I think we need to be doing right now is affecting people’s time to be with family and getting a little down time.”
Rich Seeley, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation District 6A, said he and his membership aren’t buying the government’s suggestion that making changes to March Break, which could also include staggering the time off between locals, will accomplish what Lecce is suggesting, halting the spread of COVID-19.
Like Judge, Seeley said March break is desperately needed by students, family and staff, adding staff has been working at a pace that is ultimately unsustainable and that teachers and education workers are at their breaking point.
“Cancelling or postponing the March Break would only serve to compound the stress and anxiety that are already at frighteningly high levels among students and staff in our high schools,” Seeley said in an email response.
The rationale also doesn’t make sense.
“It is certainly counterintuitive for students to be expected to sit in crowded classrooms all day and then be told that it’s unsafe to gather outside of school hours. In light of this, it is unsurprising that students congregate with extended family and friends outside of school hours,” Seeley said.
Both Seeley and Judge pointed out the school year is a fixed number of day and no school hasn’t had learning take place on any scheduled day.
“If the March Break were to be cancelled, it would be our expectation that the time would be given back later in the year either by moving up the end date in June, or some other approach to claw back the five days. Otherwise, our members would be entitled to compensation for the extra days worked,” Seeley said.
Lecce, who sprung the decision on students and staff, said the decision will be made exclusively based on public health direction, adding he’s spoken to Dr. David Williams, the province’s chief medical officer of health, seeking guidance.
“ At the end of the day, people should not be travelling, we are encouraging people to stay in this province and stay in their communities. We know about these new variants we do not want to bring more of them into our province,” Lecce told CP24.
“But our government is going to continue to listen to the science. We will communicate it well in advance of March Break.”
Students in Northern Ontario have remained in school throughout the recent lockdown order, while students in 13 other districts are expected back in class on Monday. Students in Ontario’s other three districts are scheduled to return on Feb. 16.
