If there’s trouble bubbling under the surface at the local public schools over extra-curricular activities, it has yet to make its way to the surface. All over Ontario both high school teachers and elementary teachers have been vowing to take a pass on participating in extra-curriculars. Yesterday, however, teachers at Riverdale High School said they will “return to normal” around such unpaid work because their union isn’t asking them to take such a “pause.” This decision may be temporary as the Secondary Teacher’s Federation prepares for a strike vote later this Fall which may take the teachers out altogether. At the elementary level, with young kids, it’s even more complicated. The Elementary Teachers want members to refrain from extra work. It’s causing a lot of heartache across Ontario as parents try to fill the void. They are running up against teacher ill-will and legal rigmarole around insurance needed to supervise kids while on school property. A group of parents in the Beach has gone off school property to conduct running activities along the boardwalk, Locally, there’s little evidence of difficulty. At Maurice Cody Junior Public School, new principal Andrew Howard issued a welcome back letter which makes no mention of any disruptions whatsoever.
