Cautiously optimistic : Vancouver Island teachers hope for mandatory masks in COVID-19 update for schools vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Union survey of B.C. teachers shows unease over COVID-19 safety in schools
A new survey commissioned by the B.C. Teachers’ Federation suggests more than half of teachers feel unsafe in the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic and the vast majority want to see masks become mandatory.
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CBC News ·
Posted: Feb 03, 2021 7:39 PM PT | Last Updated: February 4
A survey of B.C. teachers suggests 57.8 per cent do not feel safe during in-person instruction.(Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
Mask use remains optional for elementary school students, with parents to decide. The new requirement applies to all indoor areas, with the only exceptions being when drinking or eating or when sitting or standing at a workstation with a barrier in place. The change comes with about 90 days left in the 2020-2021 school year. The announcement was made on Thursday morning (Feb. 4) by Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C. School Trustees’ Association president Stephanie Higginson. Other changes include further guidelines in physical education and music classes. High intensity activities should now be done outdoors, whenever possible, shared equipment must be cleaned between use using new guidelines, students using equipment or instruments must be spaced two metres apart and masks must be worn while singing.
Vancouver high schoolers suffering from too few instructional hours during pandemic, parents say
The Vancouver School Board is getting a failing grade from some parents who say their children aren t getting enough class time in high school. This perceived instructional deficit has them worried about their kids academic prospects in the future and their mental health today.
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