Students return to class as concerns about teacher working conditions linger

As Nova Scotian students return to classrooms Tuesday morning, many feel the problems that caused disruption in the province's 400 schools this week have not been resolved.

Grade 12 student Hope Martin sees problems with teacher working conditions andwants them changed.

"I feel happy that we're going to be able to go back to school, but it's not a permanent solution, it's not at all going to help in the long run," said Martin.

Government reversal

The provincial government told students to stay home Mondaywhile their teachers sat in empty classrooms.Education Minister Karen Casey told reporters Saturday the work-to-rule action teachers had proposed was a safety issue for students.

The Liberals had planned to introduce a bill that would impose a contract on teachers, who have been without a contract for 18 months. Schools would have stayed closed until the bill was passed.

But on Monday afternoon, the government announced it would not table the bill, and that it was satisfied the union could provide a safe environment for students.

Student, parent rallies

Student Hope Salmonson felt the protests outside schools and around the legislature helped change the government's mind.

"I would say that what they've done now is they've heard us. And the next step now is to listen to us," Salmonson said at a rally in the Grand Parade.

Many at the rallies spoke of teachers whose resources are stretched too thin. Student Tyson Bears chalkedit up to a funding problem.

"The government, the teachers, the students, the parents, everyone is in a bad situation because there's no money anywhere," he said. "But I don't think this is how to deal with it."

The premier has said there is a "huge gap" between the contract teachers want and the one government can afford.

There's no word on when the teachers and the provincewill begin to negotiate again, and the education minister did not rule out using the as-yet-unintroducedBill 75 to impose a contract upon the teachers' union.