'We'll keep fighting': Woody Point residents protest Bonne Bay Academy cuts

Dozens of people gathered in front of Bonne Bay Academy in Woody Point early Wednesday morning, angry over the loss of 1.75 teaching positions at their small, all-grade school.

Protester and president of the school's council Wendy Barnes said that equals two teachers gone, a cut she feels will gravely hurt its 53 students.

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"We're going to put out kids that are less educated than what our country deserves," Barnes told CBC Radio's Corner Brook Morning Show, as other protesters chanted and vented around her.

"We believe that the province of Newfoundland and our school deserves a quality education that's comparable to our country."

The Bonne Bay Academy cuts are part of those announced in the April 14 provincial budget, which Education Minister Dale Kirby has said will have a total net loss of 73 teaching positions in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Tired teachers

Barnes said with the loss of two teachers, the rest will have to deal with a heavier workload, especially when having to deal with special needs students.

"Primary, elementary teachers [are] being forced to have multiple special needs kids in the classroom, with no prep time to help with that," she said.

"All their prep time, all their lunch time and recess time would have to be completely, always on duty."

As the mother of a boy on the autism spectrum, along with other disabilities, Barnes fears for both him and the other students.

"He would be forced into a classroom with three other grades, and be disruptive, and possibly violent, and he'd be left there," she said.

"It would impact his whole other class that would be there, the 4s, 5s and 6s."

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​Barnes said she and the other protesters want the cuts reversed, and Wednesday's protest may not be the last.

"We are going to hope that our voices are heard, to get everything back. We'll keep fighting, we'll keep calling, we'll do whatever we have to do."