Regina students stage pro-teacher protest amid bargaining breakdown

“They’ve been coming here and supporting us. So it’s just my turn to come and help them.”

Published Feb 02, 2024 • 3 minute read

REGINA, SASK : February 2, 2024– Students and supporters of the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation march down Albert street near the Saskatchewan Legislative Building on Friday, February 2, 2024 in Regina. KAYLE NEIS / Regina Leader-Post Photo by KAYLE NEIS /Regina Leader-Post

On Friday afternoon, the second day of their new semester, Grade 11 Riffel High School students Hailey MacDonald and Cadan Manz were out of the classroom.

Both of them wanted their voices to be heard, as students and as two people who one day want to become teachers.

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They were among the more than 100 Regina area students and parents who took to the streets, protesting in favour of their teachers and against the government’s bargaining stance.

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“They’ve been coming here and supporting us. So it’s just my turn to come and help them,” said MacDonald.

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Issues of classroom complexity and composition have been top of mind for the STF during bargaining, which the Government Trustee Bargaining Committee refuses to engage in within the collective agreement. For Manz and MacDonald, the reality of high school is that most of their classes have more than 30 students and few if any educational assistants.

“We can’t learn without them being able to support all of us and with how many people are in the classrooms now, it’s just kind of unbearable,” said Manz.

Some students at the walkout, which was not sanctioned by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, spoke about having to get tutors to try and keep up with in-class lessons.

Manz said it brings down the morale of a class.

“It’s a struggle sometimes.”

MacDonald said current classroom complexity and composition means having to wait for help. It can affect grades and can leave students feeling unprepared.

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“I just don’t get that much support. The teachers explain the assignment and then if you have any questions, you’re waiting to email them,” she said.

Both students say the actions of the government during this round of bargaining has made them think twice about becoming teachers.

But what made Manz first want to go into education was the great teachers he had.

“Being able to help, like some of the great teachers I’ve had, trying to be like them and trying to move forward and help kids in their education like I was helped,” said Manz.

Former teacher Dave Coleman said it was important for him to support the students since it shows “it’s not just teachers that are worried about what’s happening.”

Students and supporters of the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation march down Albert street near the Saskatchewan Legislative Building on Friday, February 2, 2024 in Regina. KAYLE NEIS / Regina Leader-Post Photo by KAYLE NEIS /Regina Leader-Post

Two of his daughters are teachers, and they’re “pretty discouraged.” For comparison, the largest class Coleman said he ever had was 32. Asked what impact that has on students, Coleman said it means “you can’t deal with the kids.”

“You can’t help kids that need help and you can’t, I don’t think, provide any sort of enrichment for the smarter kids,” he said.

On Thursday, Samantha Becotte, STF president, was in North Battleford, as part of rolling strikes where she posted a video to X — formerly known as Twitter — asking the government to get back to the table and to stop with “the empty promises.”

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As the stalemate drags on into February, a recent poll from Sask. Reacts, conducted by Insightrix, seems to show people are rallying behind the teachers.

Of the 31 per cent of respondents who said they were affected by the strikes, 61 per cent said the strikes have significantly increased their support for the STF, 15 per cent reported a slight increase in support, 16 per cent reported no change.

Five per cent reported a slight increase in their support for the government and eight per cent said their support for the government significantly increased.

Thirty one per cent of respondents said they were affected by the first and second provincewide strike.

Of those affected, 35 were required to make work accommodations, 32 had to make arrangements for childcare, 21 experienced a disruption in services, 16 lost income or altered work, 12 per cent took part as teachers or STF members and 26 per cent of those affected took part in the strike as a supporter.

The poll was conducted from Jan. 23-25. The sample size of the poll, conducted by Insightrix, was 600 people with an estimated margin of error of +/- 3.5 per cent, 19 out of 20.

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