Alberta parents and teachers protest provincial re-entry plans, call for smaller class sizes

Co-ordinated rallies across the province on Friday saw parents, teachers and advocates demanding a change of course as students get ready to head back to school this fall.

The protests, held outside more than two dozen MLA offices across Alberta, were organized to pressure the province into implementing smaller class sizes amidst the pandemic.

Stephen Yanover, a high school teacher in Calgary, was protesting outside Health Minister Tyler Shandro's constituency office in Calgary.

"It is anger. It is frustration. It is disgust," Yanover said. "It's just, you know … they're doing nothing. They're not listening to anybody."

The school year is set to begin the first week of September. Mask use is required for all staff and students from Grade 4 to 12 in the province, while all students and staff in Calgary's public system and the Catholic school district will need to cover up.

But even with the safety measures announced, many teachers — including junior high teacher Cheryl Ruttle — worry there won't be enough room in schools to physically distance.