Lack of teachers pushes Milk River students to online learning
![Erle River high school A teacher shortage has forced grade 12 students at Erle Rivers high to move to online learning](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2023/2/1/erle-river-high-school-1-6256176-1675297306155.jpg)
Grade 12 students at Erle Rivers High School in Milk River received quite the shock earlier this month.
That's when they discovered their math and chemistry classes were moving to an online learning format after no teachers were available to teach in person.
The teacher previously teaching both math and chemistry went on maternity leave.
The Horizon School Board, which oversees the school, posted the job opening, but no teachers applied.
The decision was then made to move the grade 12 math and chemistry classes online.
It hasn’t been an easy transition for students.
“There’s a lot of frustration from the students. My daughter's in grade 12 she came home in tears yesterday. Just the math 30 on their own is a lot for them to deal with,” said Elise Walker.
CHEMISTRY AND MATH ONLINE
The chemistry and math classes have about 12 students each.
Students will meet with online instructors every Monday, but have to go through the course material themselves.
Several students complained about waiting up to 24 hours to have a question answered.
Charlie Garber, a student in these classes, said “We've been doing it online but it's kind of been a lot by ourselves unfortunately. It feels a lot like home schooling if I’m being honest. So it's been challenging.”
Adding to the students' stress level is the fact they’ll have to write a diploma exam at the end of the year.
The school division is recruiting to add more teachers
UNPREPARED
There’s concern that the online learning environment won’t properly prepare students for their exams.
“We'll all be online until diplomas come and then that's going to be on paper. And it could be a big struggle for the fact that we've had really nothing on paper or in person,” said Grayson Thompson, one of the students concerned with how well online classes are preparing them.
Other students believe the courses have been made easier to help negate any difficulties with the online learning, which won’t help them come exam time.
“Online maybe your grades can look a lot better because they're making things so much easier at times with cheat sheets and everything," said student Trinity Dietrch. "And then you go to write a diploma on paper and you have nothing like that and it's a lot different.”
Horizon school division superintendant Dr. Wilco Tymensen said the division is actively working to address the shortage.
In a statement Wilco said “Horizon continues to take active steps to recruit teachers and when needed we explore alternatives such as partnering with other schools and school divisions and offering virtual classes.”
But barring any sudden teacher hires, it appears grade 12 students at Erle Rivers High School will be resigned to online learning for the remainder of their time in high school.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6972801.1721660708!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
WATCH LIVE Secret Service director says Trump assassination attempt was biggest agency 'failure' in decades
The director of the Secret Service says the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump was the agency's 'most significant operational failure' in decades.
Hollywood reacts to Joe Biden exiting the U.S. presidential race
Hollywood was quick to react to the news that U.S. President Joe Biden was ending his bid for re-election and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
What to know about the Canadian ties of Kamala Harris, Biden's choice for successor
U.S. President Joe Biden is stepping aside as the Democratic candidate in that country's November election and throwing his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris -- a Montreal-area high school graduate who spent several years in the city.
Canadian killed near Gaza border after threatening forces with knife: Israeli police
Israeli police say a Canadian citizen was killed Monday after threatening Israeli security forces with a knife near the Gaza border.
Markets bet on second Bank of Canada interest rate cut coming this week
Economists and market watchers are betting the Bank of Canada will deliver another interest rate cut this week amid mounting evidence that inflation is sustainably easing.
The pilot who died in crash after releasing skydivers near Niagara Falls has been identified
Officials on Sunday released the name of a pilot who died in a skydiving flight after her passengers jumped from the aircraft near the Niagara Falls.
Canadian musicians struggle to get visas to perform in the U.S., some cancel shows
Backlogs and processing delays of temporary U.S. visas required by entertainers, athletes and artists has forced some Canadian bands to cancel U.S. tour dates because paperwork wasn't processed in time.
Prince George is 11 -- see his birthday photo
Prince George has turned 11, and as per tradition his proud parents have released an official portrait to mark the occasion.
Harris looks to lock up Democratic nomination after Biden steps aside, reordering 2024 race
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris moved swiftly to lock up Democratic delegates behind her campaign for the White House after President Joe Biden stepped aside amid concerns from within their own party that he would be unable to defeat Donald Trump.