Parents blast proposal to cut 10 days from school calendar
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, February 23, 2017
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Parents in Fort Simpson say they're not convinced a pilot project that would cut 10 days from the school calendar will pay dividends, as members of Fort Simpson's district education authority also express their surprise.
The cuts, which are decided by the individual schools, will come in the form of one Monday morning per month in some months and a Monday and a half in others. Those cuts would be partially offset by increased class-time on other days but at the expense of other activities, such as afternoon recess at Bompas Elementary School and homeroom class at Thomas Simpson Secondary School, known as Teacher Advisory Group (TAG).
Bernice Hardisty, a parent of a Grade 9 student at Thomas Simpson, said questions still need to be addressed regarding how students will be expected to pick up the slack if their TAG class sees cuts.
"We're asking them to prep themselves for a career. If we do this, they're going to fall behind," she said.
"I think parents should have been consulted."
But Dehcho Divisional Education Council superintendent Terry Jaffray said parental consultation was not a requirement of the pilot project, which would move forward regardless.
"Because it's a result of negotiations, so it's out of a contract, then it's not a thing where we really consult. For my part, I have to make sure it happens and I have to follow the guidelines," Jaffray said.
She added teachers were looking for input from parents on how they felt about the Monday cuts as opposed to other days of the week.
Renalyn Pascua-Matte, who sits on the district education authority, said the pilot project took her by surprise.
"There may be a good thing here, there may not be," she said.
Rock Matte, who has two children at Thomas Simpson, slammed the proposal, saying it treats students as "guinea pigs."
"We're just told our kids for the next three years are going to be guinea pigs of an experiment, without knowing (if it's) going to go well or badly," he said, adding he questions what could happen if the pilot project doesn't work as intended.
He added that schools need to make sure the extra prep and development time for teachers results in better education.
"We've got to make sure the quality is there, if the time's not there," he said.
'We're getting cheated'
Parent Dennis Nelner also blasted the proposal, arguing students would ultimately suffer as a result.
"Having less instructional time - do you seriously think the outcomes are going to be even better? How could we even make that connection?" Nelner said.
"My kids need more time, not less . Less instructional time, to me, means we're getting cheated."
Nelner pointed to low graduation rates and challenges students in the North face when pursuing post-secondary education as evidence the education system is already flawed.
"(This project) is done, basically, on the backs of students and parents," he said.
"I don't mind (teachers) getting more training and education - that's great. But don't do it on the backs of my kids."
Jaffray agreed results in the Northwest Territories are poor, calling them "shameful."
"You can guarantee yourself that every educator . when they think about their kids and school and their responsibilities, they feel badly too. They're trying hard to change that," she said.
"I honestly think that if we keep doing more of the same, we're going to keep getting more of the same."
Not all parents are against the proposal, however. Nic Larter, who has a child at Thomas Simpson, said more hours at school would simply make students more tired without improving their education.
"If we back up - and here's our chance - and focus our time and energy, get more quality in there, I bet you'll see a double turnaround," Larter said.
See related story: "Classes on chopping block"
