Mixed reaction in the north to remote learning continuing until September
There was mixed reaction to news this week that remote learning would continue until the end of the school year.
Margaret Jones has four kids at home in Gore Bay and three of them are school aged. She said it has been tough.
"It's frustrating, it's so stressful and I've noticed my 14-year-old -- she's in Grade 9 -- this was her first year of high school and for a lot of kids it's a 'make-or-break' year," Jones said.
"She's not liking it. She had a couple of months in school and she loved it and loved the chance to meet new people and going back to online learning, it's been pretty lonely for her."
Jones said the Internet has also been a challenge. With so many kids online at one time, bandwidth becomes an issue.
"I think we (Manitoulin Island) are getting mushed in with everyone else, we're pretty isolated up here," she said. "I think we've been doing what we're supposed to be doing and we're getting punished for the big cities ... it is what is and there's nothing we can do about it."
And she's not alone. This was clearly not the answer a lot of mothers were looking for in the region.
Terri Lynn Leighton has two children in high school, and one of them is graduating later this year.
"I think we knew it was coming -- I mean it is June and there's only a few weeks left," said Leighton.
"Of course I'm disappointed. My kids enjoy going to school, that's where relationships are formed, they miss their friends, they miss their activities. My kids do well at school so I'm very fortunate that way and it's been a little more challenging with online for sure."
The Gore Bay mom said her heart breaks for her Grade 12 student who wants to return this year for her final few weeks in high school.
One of the hardest things for her daughter was the fact that there are, so far, not any graduate pictures taken of the class. Up until very recently, pictures of all the graduates have adorned the walls of Manitoulin Secondary School.
"It broke my heart to know this class is being deprived of a grad photo," said Leighton. "Yes, I can take a picture of her in a cap and gown, but it's the school and not having that togetherness of the classroom."
"Personally do I think it's a good call. For Manitoulin? No. I think that our schools are safe for the kids to go back, but I also realize that you just can't isolate from one school to the other."
Union officials like Chantal Rancourt, president of Sudbury's Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association, said the solution is far from perfect, but it was the best given the state of the pandemic
"Had we done things differently in the fall of 2020, I don't think we would be needing to make a decision as was made today," said Rancourt.
Rancourt said they like the idea of teachers and students being given extra time to get their vaccines before they return to class in September.
"Everyone will look at this as to how it affects them personally," she said.
"Every child has dealt with the online learning differently, every child has different needs, every teacher has a different style and different needs so there will be mixed reaction. Every parent has a different situation and some can't afford to take time off with their children so it will be a mixed reaction and I think that's natural and normal."
Norm Blaseg, Rainbow District School Board's director of education, said it's disappointing that kids won't be coming back, but it was done with good reason.
Blaseg said health and safety has to come first.
"I think part of that is having children come back and weighing that against kids staying home, the mental health piece, one would hope with the nicer weather and kids can be outside according to the new guidelines, if they're outside and physical distancing, hopefully that will help with the mental health piece," he said.
He said board doesn't like remote learning -- it's not the way they've been trained to teach, but it's something they've had to do to protect children.
"It's a necessary evil and sadly we'll have to carry that out for another four weeks, but at the end of the day, we'll be in a much better position for September," Blaseg said.
As it stands now, the Rainbow District School Board is planning for a return to the classroom in September. It's also planning for other eventualities, but it is looking forward to resuming in-person learning.
Blaseg said as far as the premier's request for outdoor, in-person graduation ceremonies, that came as a surprise.
"That came out of left field so we will have to take that back and take a look at that. I'm on record back in February saying that we would be doing virtual graduations," he said.
He said they're going to continue with the virtual ceremonies, which have been in this works for months. He hopes to have a decision on the premier's request no later than next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in father's drowning, told police he was baptizing him
A Massachusetts man who told police he was exorcising a demon and performing a baptism when he shoved his father's head under water multiple times has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.