Students informed of Bill 115

by Liam Higgins

Despite initial assumptions by Windsorites, high school students proved they were informed on Bill 115.

High school students across Windsor walked out of classes Oct. 3 to protest Bill 115. Students stood outside their schools with signs critical of the bill in support of their teachers. Also, in hope to prevent the removal of extra-curricular activities in the school system such as sports.

Warren Kennedy, director of the Greater Essex County District School Board, said the deficit of $14-16 billion is the number one issue outlining the bill.  In defense of the students, Kennedy says he encourages them to have a voice. “They have taken the time to understand the politics behind this,” said Kennedy. “I think now they are directing their questions and concerns to the right people.”

The Putting Students First Act outlines the collective bargaining agreement to freeze wages, cut the amount of sick days and bans the ability to strike for teachers over the next two years. The bill’s purpose is to help establish growth in Ontario’s economy by retaining educational gains while creating new jobs and maintaining current ones.

Kennedy said he feels the reason students spoke out in the first place was to defend their teachers.
“I think that quite simply that students generally speaking enjoy their teachers,” said Kennedy. “They saw that their teachers were upset and so they reached out to help them, and the best way that they thought at the time to do that was to walk out.”

Jacob Markou, a student at Walkerville Collegiate Institute, said he feels even though it will save taxpayers $2 million, the effects of the bill are going to be more permanent.
“The flight of younger teachers due to wage freeze may drain quality educators from the system,” said Markou.

Although Markou said he feels Bill 115 has caused a large outcry, it has yet to affect him based on his lack of involvement with extra-curricular activities.

Kennedy said conversations still continue and students are becoming more sophisticated with their form of protesting by sending letters to MPPs and contacting the union.

“I think it was a slow start for the students,” said Kennedy. “But in the end, I think they’ve done a really good job of understanding.”