Parents, students organize boycott of online learning, starting Friday
CBC
A movement to boycott online classes starting Friday in New Brunswick has gained traction on social media among some parents and students.
Mélissa Daigle Richard started a Facebook group called "Après le 12 Novembre …. NON à l'école Virtuel" this week to rally parents to pull their children out of online classes.
The group's goal is to pressure the government to get kids back into schools.
All schools closed two weeks ago when provincial employees who are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) went on strike over wages. Students have been attending online classes since then.
Richard started her Facebook group to protest online learning on Wednesday night, and in less than 24 hours it had attracted more than 1,500 members.
Richard said she was surprised by the attention and support.
"I felt, wow, we're not alone," she said.
Richard sent an email on Wednesday night to the principal of her son's school, to Premier Blaine Higgs and to Education Minister Dominic Cardy, informing them that her son, who's in Grade 10, would no longer be attending online classes.
CBC News reached out to the Education Department for comment late Thursday but did not immediately receive a response.
Richard said her son has been having a hard time keeping up with online classes.
"He has headaches, he's not doing well at all," she said. "We feel as parents that the kids need to go back to school to learn."
Richard and other parents are hoping a boycott of online classes will get their kids back to in-person classes faster.
"Another plan needs to be done. Online, every day, is not an answer," she said.
Mia Richard, a Grade 12 student at École L'Odysée in Moncton, is not planning on attending online classes as of Friday.
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