In an effort to support school divisions鈥� work to protect the health of students, teachers and staff, the Saskatchewan Teachers鈥� Federation advised members not to volunteer for extracurricular activities.聽 聽
鈥淥ur priority as teachers and community leaders is to ensure the safety of our students as our schools re-open,鈥� said Patrick Maze, President of the Saskatchewan Teachers鈥� Federation. 鈥淪ignificant effort has been undertaken to ensure safety of students such as cohorting, restricting travel and staggered start times. Providing extracurricular activities undermines these efforts.鈥�
As teachers, students and their families navigate the transition into the school year, suspending participation in extracurricular activities for the time being will allow everyone to focus on safety and education as they adjust to the protective measures the school divisions have put in place.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to remember that when Saskatchewan students return to their classrooms on September 8, they will not have been in a classroom for over five months. Gaps in learning already exist at the beginning of a normal school year and COVID-19 is only going to widen those gaps,鈥� said Maze.
鈥淲hile we recognize the important role that extracurricular activities can have on students鈥� well-being, our priority has to be on their safety and education,鈥� he added.
The decision of whether or not to proceed with such activities this school year has been left to the discretion of each school division.
The STF supports the decisions of majority of school divisions that have decided not to proceed with extracurricular activities at this time. While the STF recognizes school divisions鈥� authority in this matter, the union strongly encouraged all divisions to suspend extracurricular activities.
