Over 700 schools across Ontario are particapating in a student walkout today (April 4th), to protest the changes to the Ontario education system proposed by the Ford Government and Saugeen District Secondary School is one of them.
The "Students Say No" Walkout will see over 200 Saugeen District Secondary School (SDSS) students walkout of school at 1:15 p.m.
Grade 12 student Teagan Allen-Gruberbauer says two things that worry her most about the changes to education are the four online courses that will be implemented, along with larger class sizes.
The Government announced High School students will be required to take four out of the 30 high school credits required for an Ontario high school diploma as online courses. Proposed class sizes for the online classes could average 35 students, per class.
"I don't think everyone should have to take the four online courses," says Allen-Gruberbauer.
She says she's an "academically inclined student" and is currently taking a French immersion course which consists of partial online learning, "but online doesn't work for me". She says the "blended class" allows students to get time with a teacher one to two days a week, however, "that still isn't enough in person teacher time... and I understand that some kids won't learn that way."
The grade 12 student is also not in favour of expanding class sizes.
"You have to go see a teacher if you're struggling and that's hard enough to do in the class sizes as they are," she says.
"Adding extra kids into classrooms aren't going to help them learn any better...kids will get lost in class sizes."