With students still home, Quebec high school teachers question decision to be sent back to class - Action News
Home WebMail Monday, November 11, 2024, 06:47 AM | Calgary | -1.6°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Montreal

With students still home, Quebec high school teachers question decision to be sent back to class

High school teachers argue it's irresponsible to send hundreds of them back to their schools, at the risk of catching or transmitting COVID-19, when they could easily work from home.

Teachers due to show up for work Monday, though Education Ministry advises 'flexibility'

High school students are expected to keep learning from home for the rest of year, but teachers are still being told to show up May 4. (Jonathon Hayward/The Canadian Press)

High school teachers are questioning why they are expected to return to their schools next week, despite classes being cancelled for the rest of the year.

The Legault government announced this week elementary schools would resume May 11 in most of Quebec, and on May 19 in the Montreal area.High school students, however, are expected to learn from home.

A notice from the Education Ministry to school administrators said teachers are required to return May 4, but that there should be "flexibility" going forward.

Pamela Gomez, a high school teacher in Montreal, said she doesn't understand why she's being asked to show up for work next Monday, in front of an empty classroom.

She is also worried about her two teenagers, who will now be home alone.

"It's one thing to spend a day at home on your own, and it's another thing to expect them to, for the remainder of the school year,manage their basic needs, their own mental health and their own distance learning," she said.

Other teachers have also expressed concerns to CBC News.

They say it's irresponsible to send hundreds of high school teachers out in the public, where they maycatchor transmitCOVID-19, when they could easily work from home.

According to the Education Ministry, high school students are more independent and thus are in a better position to finish their school year through distance learning.

EMSB says teachers can work from home

Mike Cohen, spokesperson for theEnglish Montreal School Board (EMSB),saidthere will be plenty for teachers to do, such as tutorials for online learning should they come in to work.

However, the director general of theEMSB,Ann Marie Matheson,announced late Thursday that high school teachers will be ableto continue working from home, offering virtual support to their students.

Butprincipals will be able to request the presence of one staff member from any of the employee groups to assist with tasks such as registration, staffing, programming, planning and meetings, she said.

Based on a report by Jay Turnbull

Add some good to your morning and evening.

Your daily guide to the coronavirus outbreak. Get the latest news, tips on prevention and your coronavirus questions answered every evening.

...

The next issue of the Coronavirus Brief will soon be in your inbox.

Discover all CBC newsletters in theSubscription Centre.opens new window

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service apply.