Showing support for their teachers, J. Lloyd Crowe Secondary students participated in a peaceful protest Friday.
The students were prompted to take action due to the on-going teachers’ contract dispute and subsequent job action, which has resulted in no reports cards and the possibility of losing extra-curricular activities such as the annual honour roll trips.
Four Grade 12 students initiated their school’s participation in ‘Walk Out Wednesday‘ an event created on Facebook by a few Vancouver students earlier last week.
On Friday, students across the province walked out of classes in a show of support.
“The government went about the legislation they’re about to pass very undemocratically,” said student/organizer Ben McNamee. “So, we’re taking a stand to show that we support our teachers.”
Through the aid of social networking and word of mouth, demonstrators expanded and walked out alongside Highway 3B in Trail to better illustrate their cause.
The protest didn’t include the entire student body.
Many other students decided to remain in class for various reasons. Worries such as class attendance, assignment marks or an opposing view kept them away from the demonstration.
Meanwhile students outside, held signs and waved at passing traffic to show their support for the teachers and disappointment in the negotiations, which has prompted a three-day walkout by teachers beginning today.
Part of the emphasized support, leading to the protest, seems to be a result of the jeopardized honour roll trips for grades 8-11.
Honour roll trips are an “excellent opportunity for J. Lloyd Crowe students to experience what a post secondary learning institution actually looks like” said Principal Dave DeRosa.
Although, without office staff permitted access to grade 8-11 marks, their trips cannot proceed, however; Grade 12 student marks must be assessable and therefore continue with their trip.
“The hope is that there may be some end in sight for the job action,” said DeRosa “...(then) we may be able to have some sort of honour roll trip for grades 8 through 11.”
The lack of report cards has also been a cause for irritation for students, who are hoping for a possible solution to the dispute in the near future.
“It’s not fair anymore, teaching is a really important job,” said Caulay Morton.