We are thousands of Bachelor of Education students and are more than ready to lend a hand to schools that need it! So why not credit a few lessons or even a semester to students of 3and and 4and years in exchange for our help on the ground for these particular times?
Most of us are ready to manage a classroom and go all out to support the teaching staff. We already do, for the most part, a lot of substitution! The problem is the lack of time due to the millions of jobs that we have to do. Isn’t it therefore more consistent to target students who feel ready to help you (by lightening their study task) than to ask for reinforcement from any parents? I think parents would be more reassured on their side too, right? How can we sleep peacefully when anyone could end up with the education of our children in their hands?
On the other hand, some will say that the whole formation is necessary so that we do not miss theoretical learnings which would help us to reach the capacities necessary to be a teacher worthy of the name. To which I will reply that, for several years, the bachelor’s degree in education lasted three years. Already here, we note that it is quite possible to be competent teachers by having a training period of three years. So I’m saying, and I want to stress this, that the students would be able to do whatever tasks they were given, because most of us have done a lot of internships, where they’ve been able to take charge of students for several weeks or even months. Of course, it would be absurd to say that we would miss out on learning if we had credited courses: wasn’t there a proverb which explained in accordance with that “one learns by doing”?
I’m sure my brothers and sisters have more than enough capacity to teach your children. It is enough to understand that we are willing to enter the job market and compensate for the lack of manpower by having, in return, compensation within the framework of our studies. Having a few credit courses would allow us not to be penalized in terms of the duration of our studies if we had to take charge of a class in the meantime. We would therefore have the opportunity to help teachers, parents and especially our children during these special times.
An agreement and close communication between the government and Quebec universities are required. I therefore propose here a temporary solution to this situation which, I hope, is also.
P.S. I deeply thank the parents who are willing to help (I assure you, you are brave, and your help is invaluable), but I do not believe that this is the way the situation should be handled.