Families Seek Alternatives as Alberta Schools Remain Closed

Families in Alberta are facing significant disruption as schools remain closed due to ongoing negotiations between the province and the Alberta Teachers’ Association. With classes expected to be suspended for several days, many parents are urgently searching for alternative educational options for their children.

As the Alberta government and the teachers’ association prepare to resume bargaining talks after the long weekend, the situation has left approximately 700,000 public and separate school students in need of temporary learning solutions. To address this gap, various organizations have initiated school disruption camps designed to provide a semblance of classroom learning.

Education Camps Offer Temporary Solutions

One notable option is the education camps at Telus Spark, which are tailored to align with the science curriculum. According to Jen Duffy, the school’s science connections manager, these camps aim to enhance the students’ learning experience. “These SparkEd Camps are curricular-connected to their science curriculum. So, they are designed to enhance what they would be learning in the classroom,” she explained.

Despite the availability of these camps, parents like Kera Redlack find the search for suitable options challenging. “It’s a bit of an all-over-the-city tour as we find camps that work and that are available and that still have space,” she remarked. Redlack ultimately chose Telus Spark for her daughter, Heidi, noting the camp’s offerings for children up to the age of 12, which are less common among other local options.

Students themselves have shared mixed feelings about the transition. Eleven-year-old Jordan expressed the difficulties of maintaining focus while learning at home: “Mainly staying home and just working on schoolwork, but it is a little difficult to stay on track.” Meanwhile, Heidi mentioned the excitement of engaging in experiments, stating, “I like how we can do experiments with the things that we learn.”

Impact on Families and Educators

The closure of schools requires parents to reallocate time and resources to find and afford alternatives. Redlack emphasized the support for teachers, saying, “We 100 per cent support the teachers. We want to see classrooms and education that is meaningful, empowering and provides the right resources. So, we’re here for the long haul, but it’s certainly a disruption to our lives.”

Negotiations are set to resume on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. If an agreement is reached, teachers will need additional time to review and vote on the proposed changes, a process that historically takes around five days. Duffy noted the importance of resolving the situation for the benefit of students, saying, “I want a good resolution for our students here in Alberta.”

Student sentiments reflect a desire for improved learning environments. Heidi expressed hope for smaller class sizes, recalling her experience with 32 students in her last class, describing it as “way too big and loud.” Jordan echoed the sentiment, hoping for a swift resolution, stating, “I just hope it ends soon because it is much harder to learn at home than it is at school.”

Should negotiations fail, there is the possibility that the provincial government may mandate teachers to return to work. However, this could lead to a halt in extracurricular activities, including field trips, leaving many educators in limbo. Duffy expressed concern, noting, “If teachers are mandated back to work, then we would struggle to have work for our educators.”

As families navigate these uncertain times, the hope remains for a quick and effective resolution that restores normalcy to the educational landscape in Alberta.