Parents, experts mixed about Manitoba students returning to remote learning for one week

Manitoba students are set to begin one week of online learning Monday, after new measures imposed by the province last week.

Students will remain home and learn remotely until at least Jan. 17, with some exceptions.

Students of critical service workers from kindergarten to Grade 6, high-risk students, and students with special learning needs from kindergarten to Grade 12 will be allowed to attend school in person if no alternate care is available.

The provincial government says the one week of remote learning is part of a “phased-in approach” to ultimately ensure students can go back to regular in-person learning safely.

“Stakeholders within the education system have asked for this to adequately prepare for students to go back into the classroom setting, so there are changes that have taken place and they need the time to prepare for this,” said Premier Heather Stefanson last week.

Added Minister of Education Cliff Cullen: “The goal has always been to have students learn in person, but we need to do this safely.”

Criticism of province’s remote learning plan 

Manitoba NDP’s education critic says keeping students home for one additional week won’t make any difference.

“Had they proactively planned earlier and had put some of these measures in spring and summer, we wouldn’t be here today,” said Nello Altomare.

Some Manitoba parents echoed Altomare’s concerns.

Robyn Flisfelder, who has two kids in elementary school at Gray Academy, says the inconsistency of going back and forth is doing them no good.

“I think at this point, we can’t keep kids out of school indefinitely, so I don’t know how much of a difference it will make to keep them home for an additional week or so,” said Flisfelder.

Some students want to return to school in person

Grade 11 Sturgeon Heights Collegiate student Marco Soares started a petition calling on the province to keep students in school rather than remotely. The petition has been signed by more than 1,300 people.

Soares says he really wants to be back in school full time, but if the province extends remote learning, he would like to see more supports for students.

“I have a lot of optimism and confidence that we will make it through this one week and that we will be able to come back on January 17,” said Soares.

“A lot of students don’t have access to resources or even good internet to access their Teams or Zoom classes, so that puts a barrier, and it puts this level between those students who have resources and students that don’t. So I would like to see some requirements for that.”

Student Ebony Furst is in the same boat. She says she is worried remote learning will be extended beyond one week.

“For me personally, not being in the class, you don’t have that mentality and drive to do anything,” said Furst. “For someone who struggles with school already, it’s harder doing it over a call because you don’t get the same feeling and the same connection with the teacher as you would in class.”

High-school student Madison Kurtz understands why they’re going back online, but feels she’s missing a lot of high-school opportunities.

“I do hope we will be back eventually, especially with it being my Grade 11 year and everything I have missed out on, so it would be great to be back and experience some of those high school things that we have missed out on,” she said.

Manitoba Teachers’ Society supports the decision 

On Friday, the Manitoba Teachers’ Society called on the province to have students learn remotely for the month of January.

“We know that teachers, parents don’t want this but there needs to be time put in place to make schools a safer place,” said MTS Vice-President Nathan Martindale. “And that’s not the job of teachers, it’s the job of the employer, the school division and the provincial government.”

Starting Monday, licensed centres and child-care homes will be able to apply for additional funding supports to offset the loss of parent fees.

Lynda Raible, president-elect of the Manitoba Child Care Association, says early childhood educators have felt left out and disrespected. She says they have been calling on the province for supports, but nothing has been done.

“I’m hoping going forward that those kinds of issues will be addressed,” said Raible. “We need the same kind of help, we are screaming for help and I think the province really needs to listen and consult us with what’s going on as well, and provide us with those safety measures.”