THUNDER BAY – Caylyn Adamko thinks she’s being cheated out of the entire high school experience. And she’s upset about it.
On Thursday she joined about 30 other Hammarskjold High School students who donned the red and gold Vikings colour for a peaceful demonstration aimed at letting both sides in the ongoing teacher’s dispute with the province know they want their extracurricular activities back.
Teachers, who had their collective bargaining rights stripped under Bill C-115, have issued a work-to-rule order and are refusing to supervise high school sports, drama and other programs until a labour truce is reached.
As a result, the winter high school sports season has been indefinitely postponed.
The 16-year-old Adamko isn’t taking sides, but is getting frustrated.
“I want to enjoy high school for what it is and what it has to offer. And if it’s not offering any of the extra-curriculars, it feels like half of high school is just taken away. Because a lot of the fun we have with friends are the sports and extra-curriculars that we do outside of school,” said the Grade 11 drama student.
She’s worried her stage career could come to a screaming halt if a deal isn’t reached soon.
“We are not going to be able to do any after-school performances anymore, because our teacher can’t support them. I’m also a supporter of the music department and that will take away concerts from them. And I do participate in sports if I have the time too, and try to always cheer on my teammates too,” Adamko said.
Emma Tranter, the student body president, helped organize Jersday to give students a chance to speak up about the labour situation.
“So all the students are wearing all their extra-curricular jerseys, shirts and club shirts and we’re showing how important extra-curriculars are to us, and not only that, how important our teachers are to us,” Tranter said.
“We can’t have these extra-curriculars without our teachers.”
The 17-year-old said she wanted to make it clear students are not upset with their teachers.
“If anything we’re supporting them with this. What we want is for an agreement between government
and unions alike. But this decision needs to put students first.”
The impact is already being felt, Adamko added.
“One recent thing that happened is our Christmas assembly was cancelled. And that’s the main event that happens in our school each year around Christmastime,” she said. “And all the sports are cancelled. That’s what kids to school and look forward to every day, those sporting events, those games.”
Tranter remains hopeful a deal can get done, and thinks the collective student voice can have an effect on making it sooner, rather than later.
“We want to do something about it.”
