About 25 BCSS students joined others across the province in a protest spread via social media on Wednesday morning. They stood beside Hwy 3 in Midway protesting the impact of job action being taken by their teachers.
The students said they had been asked by principal Louise Bayles to remain on school grounds for their protest but some felt that wouldn’t be a protest.
The students complained that, because of the breakdown in bargaining at the provincial level, teachers are no longer available at lunch and after school to help students and that sports have been curtailed. “By striking they are cutting down the precious remaining time we have left in this school year,” Josie Balch said in a statement she had posted on social media.
Grade 12 student Dylan Wynn said the protest was important in that young people have a voice. Not just for this situation but for other situations in the future.
Students came and left the protest; some said they were returning to school to attend a class.
“If the teachers are allowed to strike then we should be allowed to strike too,” said student Daina Shaw.