Are high school students in Burlington out of their classrooms until Christmas? Those at Pearson say they are.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  December 10, 2012  If there was ever any doubt as to where the students stand on the government’s Bill 115 – there is little doubt any more in Burlington.

Students from MM Robinson; Lester B Pearson, Nelson High and Robert Bateman were at one point during the day out on the streets demonstrating.

More than a hundred students from Lester B. Pearson High school walked out of their classrooms and gathered at the intersection of Upper Middle Road and Headon Rd where they waved their placards and encouraged passers by to honk their horns.

The students are protesting the loss of time teachers  traditionally spend on extra-circulars like sports, the debating club – anything outside the classroom.  They want all this time back and, if the students from Lester B. Pearson are to be believed they are out on the street until Christmas – which is just ten school days away.

Two police cars kept station at Headon Road and Upper Middle Road as students protested the loss of their extra-curricular time at school.

We have seen student demonstrations before in Burlington but this is the first time we have seen a police presence.  It was also nice to see senior school staff on the streets as well; watching over their students, and doing their best to keep them in line.

It was pretty clear what this group of students wanted to say.  Senior staff from Lester B. Pearson watched over the crowd of more than 100 students that took up station on the north and south sides of Upper Middle Road.

Neither traffic lights nor the flow of traffic seemed to bother this student which is probably why police cars were attracted to the scene.

These are high school students; they get rambunctious and noisy and at times lose a bit of their common sense.  They are all good kids upset with what they are not getting.

Some teachers are blaming their union for getting them into this predicament.  Others are hard line union types and do not want the government trampling on their rights.

That’s a battle the students don’t have much time for; they want their clubs and other organizations to be there for them.

There are a lot of parents upset as well.

Bit of a predicament for both the teachers and the school administrators – but this could become one of those “teachable moments”.

What if the senior school staff asked all the students to gather in the auditorium and asked if they would accept the support of the school staff for their demonstration IF the students would enter into debate and discussion on the issue.

Have someone set out just what the issue is from a teacher perspective?

What is the government doing?  Do they have a right to do what they are doing?

Do the students have a case?  What is that case?

Let the students demonstrate, teach them something about the history of public demonstrations.

There are opportunities here to teach and at the same time let the students express their views.

That’s what a professional teacher would want to see.  I saw at least two professionals out on the streets with their students.

Asked how long this would last and what it would take to get the students back in the classroom one senior staff member commented: “Some freezing rain would help”

 

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