Jacqueline Renfrow is grateful her kids will return to school soon, after Alberta legislated striking teachers back to work early Tuesday. However, the Calgary parent calls it a bittersweet feeling, since a key issue of the three-week strike — large class sizes — remains unresolved.
In classes of close to 30 kids, her daughters have fallen behind these past few years, unable to get individualized support from teachers who are "really good at their jobs," but frequently overwhelmed with demands, says Renfrow, who’s a regular volunteer at the school.
She's been forced to hire outside tutors. Her nine-year-old, who started school during the COVID-19 pandemic, has especially struggled.
"This is something that's been brewing for years," she said. "I'm disappointed that they're forcing [teachers] back to school without coming up with at least some solutions or some steps forward."
Elementary students in Edmonton are seen in 2023 taking an activity break in class, due to limited access to the gym. (Janet French/CBC)
Large class sizes aren’t just a top concern for teachers in Alberta: Those in Ontario have
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