The STF doesn't represent students

I support teachers; they have a very difficult job to do, and most do it well. I can no longer support their negotiation techniques, however. The STF claims they represent students. This is an outright lie. The STF represents teachers only.

In our democracy, the province represents taxpayers and the school boards represent students. Both are duly elected and face consequences for not doing what the people they represent want. Teachers, however, do not, Saskatchewan students ranked among the lowest in standardized grades. Please tell me what teachers faced any consequences for the poor result. None.

In their attempt to take the decision-making powers away from elected officials, they are trying to control everything that happens in a school. Our children and taxpaying parents are continuing to bear the brunt of these demands.

Our children have not had the benefit of a complete unencumbered school year for four years now with no end in sight. Class complexity is an issue, no doubt; however, the province and the school boards are the right people to address this with input from teachers who work on the front lines every day.

The biggest challenge I see is trying to teach a grade while some students are operating at lower grade levels in multiple disciplines. I believe our standard of passing every student without the skills to succeed must end.

I know many families who are now considering home-schooling to provide some normalcy to their children's educational experience. Is this what the STF and teachers want? It is certainly not what I want. Mike Dupuis, Saskatoon