For those of you who do not live in Nova Scotia you may be unaware that for the last 2 months we have been under a partial teachers strike called “Work to Rule”! What does this mean? Simply put, the teachers go to work and do only what is required of them, what they are paid to do, no extras! Most people in this province had no idea how many things teachers do that are outside of their requirements. We have all learned very quickly and painfully!
I want to be very clear, that my support is behind two groups in all of this, the teachers and the students. I do not support this government or anything they have done during this negotiating process. I understand that the work to rule is the only form of pressure the teachers have on the government, but it does not make it any less painful. For my children who are heavily involved in extra curricular activities, they have all been cancelled, school functions, trips, band events… cancelled. My little Annie is still hoping and praying that enough of the year will be left for the school to still have a play! It has been a hard few months!
Some of you went to school with me in the past and I’m sure were surprised to see that in the end of my education, I never fulfilled my dream of being a teacher. See, when I started volunteering in the school system during University I learned quite quickly that so much has changed! I wanted to be a teacher of the past, not present! I knew after 35 years of teaching, if I ever made it that long, I would be highly burnt out!
My step daughter’s education is a great example of how the system has changed for teachers. She has severe ADHD accompanied with a learning disorder and in each of her classes she is roughly 1 of 10 children in that situation! The teacher must try continuously to keep her and those other children engaged without any extra support! On top of this, her work is modified. She isn’t on an IPP, which is a whole other blog post itself, but she does need each test, quiz and major assignments modified slightly for her. They also need to look at what assignments, tests, etc to cancel out, so that she can still make that passing grade. This term in particular I’m sure she’s realized she can get away with doing very little and they’ll find a way to push her through! And she is far from the only child being pushed through!
Is this the choice of the teachers? No, all of this extra work and lack of support has been pushed on them over the years and the teachers I have spoken to are feeling this weight! I’m worried for the children that are pushed through! What lesson does this teach them after their schooling is complete? You can put in half the effort, show up late and still keep your job! Doubtful! Most employers don’t put up with employees like that! Also what message does this send to the children that work super hard to get that A only to have kids around them that could care less and cause distractions knowing that they’ll pass regardless!
I am also aware that there are some children with modifications that are in severe situations that need this system and appreciate it! The teachers definitely need more support in all of these situations and classroom conditions need to change!
I could not be more thankful for our choice for the French Immersion program for our younger 3 children! For now, they haven’t seen the incredible strain on the system, but I know as they approach High School that will change! We have instilled some incredible values into these children, so I can only hope that will carry them through this flawed system! And I pray the teachers will win their battle and see the changes happen for our children that they and I so badly want!
In the meantime we can explain to our children what this fight is for, honestly and compassionately! The teachers need the support of all of us!
I Dream of Summer 
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