Parents not concerned over temporary extracurricular loss in schools

Extracurricular activities are on hold at elementary schools in Windsor as the provincial teachers’ work-to-rule campaign escalates.

As talks continue between the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario and the government, the union announced last week its members would no longer be required to supervise extracurricular activities beginning Oct. 28.

The move means no clubs, student athletics, dramatic productions and other activities at schools across Ontario.

Parents like Sami Mazloum, who has three children at Northwood Public School, said even with the current loss of extracurriculars, there isn’t as great a concern because of how administration is handling the situation.

“The only thing obviously is the extracurriculars have now been put on hold, but for the most part it’s business as usual,” said Mazloum, chair of the parents’ council at Northwood.

“Any time that there is pull back of extracurriculars activities, especially sports of course that they’re the most popular, it does raise some concerns with parents but in terms of a backlash or anything like that, no I think parents for the most part are supportive of their teachers.”

Mazloum said the only difficulty the council faces without teachers is fundraising for things like field trips or clubs, which require more parents to help out handing out forms and with organization.

According to parents’ council chair at Bellewood Public School, Christine Rup, parents and students are supporting teachers, but it is difficult for both sides.

“For all of the kids, you’re losing out something that they’re good at, something that they enjoy,” said Rup.

“But also too, the teachers do this as a voluntary thing, which is a nice and great thing for them to do because they build those bonds and relationships with those kids. So we lose out on both sides of it.”

Greater Essex County District School Board public relations officer Scott Scantlebury said the action is a disappointment to the board.

“We believe that these activities are part of a well-rounded, comprehensive social as well as academic education for the students and it is unfortunately the students who lose out because of this,” said Scantlebury.

“But it’s a reality when it comes to the collective bargaining process, that it is an option for teachers to withdraw these selected services to support their collective bargaining process.”

While extracurriculars will be on hold, Scantlebury said ETFO will not be cutting Thanksgiving ceremonies or breakfast programs as they are held and organized during the school day.

Rup said she hopes extracurriculars return sooner than later.

“My worry is it’s going to last too long and we won’t get back on track,” said Rup.

“It’s still early in the year, we can get back on track and everything can get back on track and what not if it were to end soon.”