School campus (cité scolaire): students denounce a teacher’s absence

Wednesday morning, students from four classes of the school campus decided to block their classmates and instructors from entering the building. They wanted to denounce the absence of their French teacher for the past several weeks. "My daughter is a junior in high school and takes her French baccalaureate exam at the end of the year, but her teacher has been absent since school began in September!" stated one mother. "This is absolutely not normal. It is a scandal," she commented.

The teacher in question was on medical leave for one quarter, and this leave was extended. He was only replaced for one short period of time. In December, the school administration assured parents, rallied alongside their students, that the position would be filled when school started again in January. "And no!" noted angry parents, who moreover contacted the National Education Department. That is why the students took the initiative to demonstrate this morning.

The representative of the provost, Michel Sanz, announced that a substitute teacher would be present beginning on Monday and would remain until the end of the year.