BRAMPTON STUDENTS PROTEST WITH MOUTHS SHUT

Amid the dozens of noisy protest rallies students are staging across the province over the loss of after-school programs, a handful of Brampton Grade 8 students will try something different Friday. The silent treatment. Maneet Kahlon and about 10 classmates at Centennial Senior Public School have decided they will not speak to teachers Friday or answer questions in class, to protest what they call the “new ban on extracurricular activities.” The 13-year-old isn’t blaming teachers, even though she has no plans to speak during Friday morning classes in Language, French or Science. “We want to show we’re upset at the government for taking teachers’ rights away, so that led teachers to take our clubs away,” said Maneet, who had been looking forward to raising funds for developing countries with the school’s Free the Children club, which has been cancelled. She said they chose the protest of silence because at middle school, leaving class without permission is not allowed. Among other student protests across the province:

Brampton Centennial Secondary School plans a walkout at 10 a.m.

Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School i n Mississauga plans a walkout Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Louise Arbour Secondary School and Harold Braithwaite Secondary are planning to join for a rally along Dixie Rd.

Cedarbrae Collegiate students in Toronto walked out Thursday afternoon.

Grey Highlands Secondary School students in Flesherton, Ont., planned a walkout Thursday afternoon. Louise Brown