Teacher creates classroom model on lawn to demonstrate distancing

Teacher Kristina Bertrand in Kitchener, Ont. created a model classroom in her front yard to illustrate what physical distancing will look like in an elementary school room this fall, to prove a point about just how crowded an elementary classroom can get.

Although conditions and plans vary among school boards, her goal is to inform parents what they can expect if their child returns to public school.

Bertrand, who is on maternity leave, has 23 child-sized paper cutouts spread out on her lawn, which she says is about the same size as her Grade 1 classroom.

Bertrandplans to keep her school-age daughter home instead of having her return to class in September when schools reopenfor the first time in Ontario since the COVID-19 pandemic emergencywas declared in Ontario.

Bertrand said she wants people to know "all the implications" of sending their kids to school, although she understands not everyone will be able to keep them home.

"There is no perfect answer," said Bertrand, who thinks the province should do more to keep class sizes small.