One parent is planning a ‘walk-in’ and plans to teach her kids at their school if the teachers won’t do so during Friday’s planned strike.
Brigitte MacNamara is a single parent of four kids and had to take her second day off work last week because of the teachers’ job action. It’s lost wages and lost education for her children.
“I am not for the government. I am not for teachers. I’m for the children,” said MacNamara.
One of her children goes to Simonds Elementary, so that is where she is planning to go through the picket line and bring her kids and any other kids that want to be taught that day inside the school.
She has created an open Facebook page under “Parent-student walk in BC schools remain open” for parents to provide feedback, or if they want to sign up.
She hopes the district will have the door open for her. If so, she plans to keep the school day as normal as possible —with instruction, recess and lunch. She would also like to include art and gym time.
“I had to take the day off anyways, so the best thing is for my children to be in school. If other parents want to bring their kids there too, I am more than willing to teach them for the day,” she said.
She plans to have a sign-in sheet and contact information from any parent who participates.
Her mother has offered to help for the day.
If the teachers won’t let her through the picket line or if the doors are locked she plans on teaching anyways, whether it be on the sidewalk or at the school’s field.
According to the district, schools are technically open in that an administrator is on site, but there is no instruction and very little supervision.
“That’s why parents are asked to not bring their kids to school,” said district spokesperson Ken Hoff.
"We recognize it's a frustrating and challenging time. However, it would not be appropriate to replace teachers in the classroom and we are asking parents to be respectful of that."