NDP, teachers urge smaller classes
Alberta Health reports three deaths, 85 new COVID-19 cases since Monday
The NDP and teachers on Tuesday stepped up their demand for smaller class sizes to reduce the spread of COVID-19, while the province reported three more COVID-19 deaths.
Alberta Health also announced 85 new cases of the disease since Monday, up from the 48 confirmed on Sunday.
Of the three deaths since Monday, which bring Alberta’s fatality total to 216, two were men in their 70s in the Calgary zone while another was a woman in her 80s in the North zone. None were in continuing-care facilities, said Alberta Health.
Active cases in the province dropped from 1,090 over the weekend to 1,004, with Edmonton having the largest number at 401, compared to Calgary zone’s 322.
Those numbers continue to heighten concerns among many Albertans over reopening schools with normal class sizes.
On Tuesday, B.C.’S NDP government announced students’ return to class would be delayed until late in the second week of September rather than Sept. 8, after staff and medical experts review the safest ways to reopen schools.
Using a makeshift classroom with 30 desks in 860 square feet to simulate what she calls a dangerously small space as a backdrop, NDP education critic Sarah Hoffman again called on the province to provide $1 billion in additional funding to maximize the safety of students, staff and their families.
“For the government to say it’s too tough for us to even try is the epitome of laziness,” said Hoffman.
“School boards don’t have the tools at their disposal — that’s the job of government.”
The NDP says class sizes should be limited to 15 students, and if that means hiring more teachers, custodians and support staff and using surplus space throughout the community, it should be done.
At the same news conference, two Edmonton public school teachers, including Renee Englot, insisted the province’s current plan and what most school boards are capable of providing makes it “impossible to physically distance.”
“(Students’) anxiety is going to spike and I expect a lot of them won’t be back on Day 2,” said the junior high school teacher, who expects a class size of 35 students.
Gazing around the makeshift classroom, Englot said she is envious at its spaciousness.
“I wish my class was this big — mine is significantly smaller and can be up to 35 junior high students,” she said.
High school teacher Heather Quinn accused the UCP government of hypocrisy in not accommodating the need for smaller classes.
“The government knows this, it’s the same reason why they’ve limited the number of MLAS in the house, it’s the reason many of them have allowed people in their constituency offices only by appointment,” said Quinn, president of Edmonton Public Teachers Local 37.
She said safety concerns expressed by teachers have increased dramatically in recent weeks.
On Monday, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said it’s up to families to make the decision on whether their children attend classes or opt for online instruction or other alternatives.
“There will be some (COVID -19) cases, there will be some exposure … certainly, some of those families are going to want their children to stay home in the early days,” said Hinshaw.
She also said families should seek to further limit the size of groups they and their children are part of once the school year begins.
Those comments led to some backlash among parents and teachers who accuse her and the government of off-loading responsibilities on to the public.
But on Tuesday, Hoffman said Hinshaw’s advice is limited to what resources the government is willing to provide.
“Dr. Hinshaw’s doing the best with the hand she’s been dealt,” said Hoffman, who noted as health minister, she appointed the physician to her post under the previous NDP government.
The NDP’S use of a classroom to deliver its message was dubbed a “stunt” earning a failing grade at honesty, said Colin Aitchison, spokesman for Education Minister Adriana Lagrange.
“It is completely unfeasible to cap class sizes at 15, as the NDP have proposed. In order to accomplish this, Alberta would need to hire 13,000 teachers by September and build or open 13,000 new classroom spaces,” Aitchison said in an email.
“This is simply not realistic or possible, and the NDP know this.”
He said Hoffman was undermining Hinshaw ’s “expert medical advice,” while the government’s plan is supported by school boards and their superintendents.
The province has mandated face masks be worn by students in grades 4 to 12 in school common areas or where physical distancing isn’t possible.
It’s also committed to supplying 1.7 million masks to students at a cost of $4.2 million, with 90 per cent of those coming from U.s.based clothier Old Navy.