Alberta Teachers’ Strike: Potential Impacts on Students and Families

The possibility of a teacher strike or lockout in Alberta has raised concerns about the potential effects on students and their families. Experts emphasize that the implications could vary significantly based on factors such as age, community support, and the length of any school closures.

Understanding the Impact on Students

Joanne Park, an assistant professor in the psychology department at Mount Royal University, highlighted the anxiety that uncertainty brings. “The unknown or that uncertainty causes a lot of anxiety,” she noted. Students facing transitions, such as moving from elementary to junior high or high school, may feel this strain more acutely during a strike.

Park explained that both academic performance and social interactions could suffer as a result of a prolonged strike. Historically, teacher strikes in Alberta have ranged from a few days to several weeks. Notably, during the early 1980s, teachers in Calgary engaged in a strike that lasted over 40 days. “Schools were closed for that long during the pandemic, leading to significant losses in academic achievement and mental health,” Park added.

She pointed out that while the context of a strike differs from that of the pandemic, the consequences of missing school are similar. “The longer students miss school, the greater the impact will be,” she cautioned. This situation disproportionately affects families already facing challenges, including economic disadvantages or limited resources.

Vulnerable Populations at Greater Risk

Michelle Briegel, a child and youth care counselor and associate professor of child studies at Mount Royal University, shared insights on the students most likely to be affected. Children who struggle academically and those who depend on school for safety or meals will face heightened challenges during a disruption.

“The outcomes we observed during COVID-19 showed that children in unsafe or unstable living conditions were impacted the most,” she said. Briegel emphasized that the effects of a potential labour disruption could be felt in the short term, but the ongoing challenges in the current educational environment have been building for years—a situation that these negotiations are intended to address.

Both experts agree that the potential for a teacher strike in Alberta poses significant risks to students’ educational experiences. The community will be watching closely as negotiations continue, hoping for a resolution that supports both teachers and the students they serve.