Osoyoos Secondary School students Tyann Stuckey (right) and Sarah Singer (left) were two out of a handful of students who walked out of class Friday afternoon in support of the 41,000 teachers across British Columbia who voted to strike last week. B.C. teachers officially went on strike Monday, March 5 and will be allowed to strike for three days the first week and one day a week for any additional weeks the dispute drags on. Photo by Mathew White.
A handful of students from the Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) joined thousands of high school students across the province Friday in staging a public walkout in support of B.C.’s 41,000 teachers who have chosen to go on strike.
“I just want to show that the strike and Bill 22 affects the students also,” said Tyann Stuckey, a Grade 12 student at OSS. “So I want to show that the students have a right to speak up about it.”
A “BC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WALKOUT” Facebook page was created on Wednesday, Feb. 29, and by Friday morning had more than 15,000 people confirming they too were going to walk out of their classrooms at 2 p.m. Friday.
The walkout was meant to show support for the province-wide strike by B.C. teachers, who voted 87 per cent in favour of going on strike earlier in the week.
“I support the teachers completely,” said Stuckey. “Most people think that they’re just fighting for their wages to be raised, but that’s not true.”
Stuckey said issues such as class size are also a major factor in the teacher’s decision to strike. She said right now her English class has more than 30 students, and with numbers like that, it leaves little to no room for one-on-one learning.
“If there are too many people then we’re not going to get the one-on-one,” said Stuckey.
When asked if she was worried about any repercussions for her actions, Stuckey said her parents fully support her right to walk out, and if there happen to be any consequences, she will take them in stride.
“That’s just what you get for standing up for what you believe in,” said Stuckey.
B.C. teachers officially went on strike Monday, March 5. They will be allowed to strike for three days the first week and one day a week for any additional weeks they are on strike.
