Paige Beck, a determined 16-year-old, remains committed to her running routine despite the delay of provincial cross country races in Alberta due to a provincewide teachers’ strike. Juggling her Grade 11 status with a Grade 12 biology course, Beck is facing challenges with the ongoing strike impacting her education.
On October 6, over 51,000 teachers in Alberta initiated a strike following unsuccessful negotiations between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the provincial government, primarily revolving around disputes regarding classroom sizes and salaries. Entering its third week, the strike is causing disruptions for students like Beck.
Having missed significant class time, Beck expressed concerns about her performance on the upcoming diploma exams and its implications for university applications. Recognizing the students’ predicament, the province announced adjustments to the November diploma exams, making them optional. The decision allows students to rely solely on other marks if they choose not to write the exams, without affecting their post-secondary prospects.
For Beck and others, the challenge lies in preparing for exams scheduled for January and June, with no changes announced. The absence of classroom instruction poses additional hurdles, as students like Beck struggle to grasp complex biology concepts independently.
Another student, Jane Kundert, faces pressure to maintain grades for early admission to the University of Alberta’s kinesiology program, while also awaiting outcomes from nursing program applications dependent on January exams. The uncertainty surrounding the strike’s resolution adds to the stress for students like Kundert, caught between the benefits of teacher advocacy and the strike’s impact on their academic progress.
As the strike continues, concerns grow over the potential consequences on extracurricular activities, including sports, impacting students aiming for athletic scholarships. The absence of regular games due to the strike is affecting students like Joe Klespitz, who worries about missing opportunities to showcase their skills to post-secondary coaches and recruiters without recent game footage.
Amidst these challenges, the looming threat of back-to-work legislation raises tensions between the government, teachers, and students, highlighting the urgency for a resolution to minimize disruptions to students’ education and future prospects.