HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – Students at Goderich’s high school walked out of classes in protest of the provincial government’s legislation that forces a contract on teachers this morning.

Members of the girls’ field hockey team raised their sticks in the air and led chants by a few hundred GDCI students gathered on the soccer field in opposition to the controversial Putting Students First Act, known as Bill 115, which was passed last week. The legislation freezes wages for two years, cuts benefits and imposes a two-year strike ban.

“The Putting Students First Act is putting students last, in a way,” said Carson Lamb, a Grade 12 student who, along with friends,

launched a Facebook group and mass text messaged to spread word of the walk out. Within a half of a day, more than 400 students had joined the Facebook group. He said students support teachers’ work-to-rule action, but he’s concerned that by curbing extra-curricular activities like sports and trips, kids are missing an opportunity to make friends, learn skills and possibly have a shot at scholarships.

Lamb has followed the dispute in the news and wants the students’ message to be heard by the McGuinty government “to help teachers, and in turn it will help us,” he said.

Some students tossed footballs, played catch and kicked soccer balls, while others gathered by the bleachers under sunny skies for an hour. A sprinkling of teachers stood watching from the parking lot. Other students hung out by the road, taking the free time to grab a smoke with friends. There were also students who chose to stay in the classrooms.

Students in high schools across Huron County and the province held similar protests today.

Last week, OSSTF/FEESO President Ken Coran called the passing of Bill 115 “one of the darkest days in the history of workers’ rights in recent memory.”

“Premier McGuinty should not expect that our members or the workers of Ontario to sit idly while the government strips them of their basic and fundamental labour rights,” he said.

OSSTF District 8 represents 1,600 teachers, educational assistants and office, clerical and technical staff in the Avon Maitland District School Board.