Parents' patience wearing thin as school closures continue

Some parents of children shut out of classesby yet another strike by teachers Monday say the ongoing labour dispute is causing turmoil for their families.

Monday marks the firstwalkout by the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), but it's actually the third time all elementary schools under theOttawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) have closed since the job action began.

• Why were OCDSB elementary schools in Ottawa closed Wednesday?

All 143 OCDSB elementary schoolsclosed last Wednesdaywhen theOntario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), which represents supportworkers who play vital roles in the day-to-day operationof elementary schools, staged a walkout. An earlier OSSTF walkout closed elementary schools on Dec. 4.

The latest closure is pushing some parents to their limits.

Dropping her tearful four-year-old daughter off at one of the special City of Ottawa-run day camps Monday, ReshmaBhimanisaid the strikes have disrupted their routine.

"We can't keep her home. We don't have extended families or parents who can take care of her. So, she has to go to daycare. We have to go to work."

Bhimani said she remains supportive of the teachers, but wants a quick resolution.

"We're actually reaching a saturation level now, and I think if [a walkout] does happen every week or every other week, it's going to come to a point where everybody's going to get frustrated," she said. "For parents and for kids, it's important that they get back in school on a regular basis, and not having to go through this turmoil."

'Pretty ridiculous'

Other parents said their support for the teachers is beginning to wane because of the strain it's placing on both their finances and their time.

"I recently started school myself, so trying to find somebody to have my child for the day, and then having to pay that out of my pocket, being low-income, it's pretty ridiculous," saidAmber-Lynn Ct, who also left her son at a camp for the day.

"They're playing in a gym right now, so they're not getting the education that they actually need."

Other parents said as tough as it's been on their families, they're still standing staunchly behind the teachers.

Tara Peel dropped her two young children off at day camp after dropping off coffee and doughnuts forteachers on the picket line.

"Of course it's a bit of a challenge, a bit of a change in our routine in the morning, and the kids would much rather be at school learning, but we're grateful for the teachers for standing up and fighting for education," she said.

"I think the cuts that are being proposed by the Ford government will be much, much worse in the long run."

Parents were also divided on whether they would take the government up on its offer of up to $60 to offset the cost of child care when elementary school teachers are on strike.

• $60 payout 'putting money back in parents' pockets', education minister says

On Tuesday, all elementary and secondary schools under the Ottawa Catholic School Board will be closed as the union representing their teachers holds its own one-day walkout.

• These eastern Ontario schools are set to close for strikes