Reopen Alberta Schools Permanently
On December 30th, during the holiday season, with less than four days left until some schools were set to start back, nearly every parent in Alberta was forced to make new plans, after the Government of Alberta, and Education Minister Adriana LaGrange announced that schools won't be reopening until January 10th... at least.
Evidently, our leaders have learned nothing in almost two years.
For over a year, the Alberta Government has been emphasizing that schools are not a significant source of spread of COVID-19.
At the beginning of this school year, they released guidance saying that closing schools would lead to learning loss among all students, harm the social and emotional development of younger students in particular, and have a severe impact on students with special needs.
The reality is that the worldwide consensus of experts - even among health authorities who have often been numb to the broader societal effects of their pronouncements - is that closing schools was a disastrous mistake.
And yet, here we are, with the Alberta government closing schools again.
Worse, we are no longer so naive as to believe that this extended school break will only last until January 10th.
Remember two weeks to flatten the curve?
More like two years to flatten our children's education and development.
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The reality is that this decision is not based on science, or on evidence.
This decision has been made because of politics.
It is the result of pressure from the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the school boards they control, who have been pushing for ongoing closures of schools for the last two years.
That pressure will not go away in one week, meaning unless we do something, the political calculus will not change, and schools will remain closed until we do.
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So, how can we change that political calculus?
It's time for Alberta parents, and common sense teachers, to show the Government of Alberta, and Education Minister Adriana LaGrange, that the Alberta Teachers' Association doesn't represent the views of everyday Albertans.
Our politicians need to hear the other side of the story.
They need to hear from all the parents, and teachers, and students who disagree with the unions and understand that in-person education is vital to our children's long-term well-being.
The Government of Alberta, and Education Minister Adriana LaGrange, must reopen Alberta's schools, and keep them open permanently.
There must be no more closures and no more interruption to our children's education and development.
If you agree, please sign the petition and then spread the word to your friends, family, colleagues, and every Albertan, to help stop this nonsensical and disastrous disruption of education.
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