While teachers and staff were required to show up for work at schools in the province today, students were told not to attend.
Students at several schools in the Tri-Counties did show up, carrying signs with messages that support teachers.
They were not allowed inside the school.
Lauren Goudey is a student at Yarmouth Memorial Consolidated High School.
She says she loves school.
“I wanted to come to school today, and I thought that even though we are locked out, we wanted to show the government that we’re going to come here and sit anyway even if there’s no school proves that we’re supporting our teachers in this, like when we did our walkout on Friday we didn’t do it just to skip school. I wish I could be in there today, it sucks.”
Grade 12 student Laura Legere says it makes it hard for those who are planning their post-secondary education.
“It’s very concerning to me as a Grade 12 student here. If this goes on and we don’t get our credits here from first semester, that would effect a lot of us long term. Some of us wouldn’t be able to go on next year. It’s a big concern to see what’s going to happen as this goes on.”
Nearly 20 students braved the cold this morning outside the school.
Meanwhile, a small group gathered in front of Yarmouth MLA Zach Churchill’s office this morning.
Brigitte Deveau brought her kids down with signs in hand to support teachers.
Small group protesting in front of @zachchurchill office this morning in Yarmouth. pic.twitter.com/0qbx9fqOKm
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) December 5, 2016
She says the teachers need to be heard.
“As a member of the PTA at Ecole Wedgeport, there have been a couple of things that we’ve been trying to address with the Minister of Education at that school, and this is another step to support the teachers at that school. My children came with me here today, they all made signs and they are working hard to support their teachers.”
Deveau says the situation has also left her scrambling to find childcare.
