Parents feeling mixed emotions about sending their children back to the classroom on Tuesday
Students are heading back to school on Tuesday, and when you talk to parents, you’ll get a mixed response.
“Definitely nervous,” said Alex Hrabowsky, a parent of child entering Kindergarten.
“I’ve got no concerns sending my kids to school,” said Scott Johnson, a parent of four. “I’m happy to send them.”
“I’m super nervous about it,” said Karyn Theeparajah, whose oldest child will be going into Grade 1.
According to a new poll conducted by the Angus Reid Institute, the majority of parents across Canada are comfortable sending their kids back to the classroom.
Seventy-seven per cent of respondents who have children ages 12 to 17 and 64 per cent of parents with a child ages five to 11 say they are feeling comfortable.
A majority of both groups of parents do want to see vaccine mandates for students who are eligible to be vaccinated, as well as teachers and staff, according to the poll.
The B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) says it is strongly encouraging all teachers to get vaccinated throughout the province.
“We certainly wouldn’t oppose a vaccine mandate if one was imposed by the employer or government or the provincial health office,” said Terri Mooring, president of the teachers’ union.
Currently, the province says it is not looking to mandate vaccines in schools. That too is drawing a mixed response from parents.
“If you have to show a vaccine passport in order to go into a restaurant or a movie theatre, I agree 100 per cent that vaccines should be mandatory in school,” said Theeparajah.
“Nope, absolutely not,” said Johnson. “I think that’s a personal choice, that’s their personal health-care decision.”
Masks will be mandatory for students in Grades 4 to 12. The BCTF would like that to be expanded to all grades.
With vaccination rates being low among people ages 12 to 17, the teachers’ federation is continuing to call for mobile vaccine clinics in schools.
“We’re really concerned about low vaccination rates there,” said Mooring. “They are coming up in some parts of the province and not others.”
“They’re still not on par with the general population.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.