INNISFAIL -- If Chinook's Edge students join a planned walkout on May 3 to protest the soon to be governing United Conservative Party's stance on gay-straight alliances, their right to speak out on the issue will be supported by superintendent Kurt Sacher, but not walking out on their classes to do it.
"I am not supportive of the walkout. I don't think that is an appropriate thing to do. I think that just disrupts the learning," said Sacher last week while schools were closed for spring break. "I am supportive of the intent. I think if their intent is to say there are times when a teacher should use their professional judgement around how they communicate with parents I would fully support them with that particular message.
"I just think at this particular time there are other ways to show your displeasure with that," he added. "I think disrupting the ebb and flow of the school is something I can't support."
Student organizers for the planned Alberta School Walkout said the intent is to protest UCP Leader Jason Kenney's declaration the NDP's Bill 24, which prevents schools from notifying parents when their child joins a gay-straight alliance (GSA), will be replaced with the previous Education Act. Organizers told the media last week that students from across the province are being encouraged to walk out of class at 9:30 a.m. and return at 9:50 a.m. Attempts by the Province to contact student walkout organizers were not immediately returned.
Sacher said last week that with schools closed for spring break he did not have any information on whether any school division students were planning to join the walkout. However, he added that discussions this week with key administration staff will likely give a more accurate picture of whether there will be student interest to add their voice to the provincewide protest.
"As we get closer (and) if we get more of a sense that this is making its way through our system I think we would work with our administrators to come up with a strategy that would be appropriate," said Sacher.
"Our school administrators are going to have to get a sense of how big of an issue this is. There are many times where there are supposed walkouts or whatever occurring in larger urban centres that don't affect us at all. If that is the case we are not going to create an issue when there isn't one there," he added. "If our administrators and our staff pick up that maybe there is something that is about to take place we would then have to put our heads together around some kind of a strategy.
"We are ready to go on that particular school day (May 3) and we are hoping there are other ways to express opinions other than walk out of class."
In the meantime, Sacher said he's had major problems with the NDP's Bill 24, adding it was "poorly implemented" and not needed in his own school division as it always prided itself in providing a safe and caring environment for all students, particularly those vulnerable, while at the same time working diligently with parents to communicate appropriately.
"Our staff, our teachers, our administrators are incredibly sensitive about the vulnerability of our students. They go out of their way to take tremendous care," said Sacher. "The bill as it was put in place, in my opinion, did not enhance that.
"If the bill is removed or if there are changes there, honestly, Chinook's Edge staff will continue to do what they have always done, which is to be particularly sensitive to the needs of their students."
