Paige Beck, a 16-year-old student, remains dedicated to her running routine despite the delay of provincial cross country races in Alberta due to a teachers’ strike. She is also striving to keep up with a Grade 12 biology course while being in Grade 11. The ongoing strike, initiated on October 6 by over 51,000 teachers in Alberta over disagreements on classroom sizes and salaries, has now extended into its third week. Beck expressed concerns about missing significant class time, impacting her preparation for the biology exam and university applications.
In response to the strike, the province announced changes to the format of standardized exams, making November diploma exams optional. However, adjustments have not been made for exams scheduled in January or June. This poses a challenge for students like Beck and Jane Kundert, a Grade 12 student, who are under pressure to maintain grades for university admissions.
Premier Danielle Smith mentioned the possibility of implementing back-to-work legislation if students do not return to classes by October 27. While returning to class may aid in exam preparation, forced teacher return could result in the suspension of extracurricular activities like coaching and impact the overall high school experience for students. The absence of school sports due to the strike is already affecting students relying on athletic scholarships, such as Joe Klespitz, a 16-year-old football player, who is concerned about missing opportunities without recent game footage for recruiters.