A local advocacy group for public education is taking to the streets this Saturday to protest plans for hybrid learning when York Region public schools reopen next fall.
In an event at the Newmarket Farmers Market on July 24, York Communities for Public Education will be using sidewalk chalk to spread their message that teachers’ attention should not be split come September.
“We will continue to fight for better for our students and teachers because the hybrid model is not sustainable and should not be normalized in our public education system for children and teens” the group, which is a coalition of parents, students, educators, education workers, and community members advocating to maintain a high standard of public education in York Region.
“Our students deserve a dedicated public education teacher for every in-person classroom and every virtual classroom.”
The York Region District School Board is planning for a hybrid model in the fall for both elementary and secondary schools, while the York Catholic District School Board is planning the same model at the high school level.
York Communities for Public Education has referred to this as "a split attention teaching model " as teachers have students in-person in a classroom, as well as those doing remote learning.
Members of the community are invited to join the group in creating sidewalk chalk art to “let everyone know that we say NO to the hybrid model.”
The event will take place at Newmarket’s Riverwalk Commons on Saturday, July 24 from 10 a.m. to noon, alongside the farmers market.
Chalk will be provided, however, it is weather dependent considering the nature of the event.
