After the main teachers' unions reached an agreement in principle with the Quebec government, the return to classes is scheduled for January 8 or 9. But with learning paused for several weeks, parents and experts worry the gap between students who are struggling and those who aren't could widen.
Students who were doing well before the strike will quickly return to routine. But those who have struggled are at risk of falling even further behind, warns special education teacher Mathieu Labine Daigneault.
The latter also states that not all students are equally affected by the strike. Those affected by the FAE strike missed around five weeks of classes, while those affected by the Common Front strike only missed around ten days.
Analysis will be required on a case-by-case basis, per class or student, to target students with difficulties.
As we return to school, this must be our priority. “We cannot ignore students in difficulty, we must provide them with support quickly to prevent the gap from widening,” he continues.
This risk of a divide between students also worries the Federation of Independent Parents' Committees of Quebec (RCPAQ).
Children who were struggling experienced delays at the start of the strike. And the longer it took, the more the number of children who needed to intervene grew, notes spokesman Sylvain Martel.
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Sylvain Martel, spokesperson for the Group of Independent Parents' Committees of Quebec
Photo: Radio-Canada
The latter added that both teachers and parents must assess the needs of children and, with the school year already in full swing, Mr Martel stressed that there was no longer any room for error.
The role of parents will be crucial. We have to follow our children, he says.
Cancel spring break?
However, Sylvain Martel notes that the proposals to extend the school year or cancel the spring break planned for March to compensate for the strike weeks are not unanimous among parents.
Our entire calendar is based on the school year, so changing that will be difficult, he says. Maybe there are a few educational days [qui pourraient être annulées]but at the same time, these are days that belong to the teachers, so the decision is theirs.
According to him, other catch-up solutions could be provided, starting with adjustments to what was planned in the calendar.
If there are children who do not arrive at the end of the year with as many subjects as others, we cannot assess them all on the same subject. [lorsqu’ils seront rendus aux examens de fin d’année].
At the moment we do not know what solutions will be recommended to compensate for the weeks-long strike, but the Cabinet of the Ministry of Education has announced that it will announce measures to help our students who have missed many days of school. Discussions are taking place with network partners on this.
Socializing put on hold
According to Annie Bérubé, full professor in the department of psychoeducation and psychology at the University of Quebec in Outaouais, the week-long strike also affected the social life of students. For all children, socialization has taken a back seat in these weeks, she emphasizes.
Report by Charlotte Dumoulin
Photo: Radio-Canada / Rosalie Sinclair
One mother we interviewed in Montreal said she couldn't wait for her children to see their classmates again.
“I’m glad they can go back there to socialize and get back into the material,” she commented. It was legitimate that all pressure tactics were used and we hope that they bear fruit and improve the school.
Not only are relationships between students important, but those between parents and teachers are particularly important in this return to the classroom, adds the spokesman for the group of independent parents' committees of Quebec.
Parents are partners with teachers. Regardless of our opinion on pressure tactics, it will be important to restore our relationships with them, recalls Mr. Martel.
With information from Charlotte Dumoulin