Dispute over curriculum keeps kids out of school

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A school dispute has divided the Piapot First Nation and, as of press time, it's also divided the school.

Four weeks after demonstrators began a sit-in to protest the curriculum at Payepot school, about 100 band members-parents of students as well as teachers-marched into the school to confront those demonstrators.

On Nov. 8 a group of band members who want the school re-opened stormed through the school's doors and began their own sit-in in the school's gymnasium. Another group of parents, who started the protest saying their children weren't getting a proper education, are continuing their own sit-in in a different part of the school.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers escorted the pro-opening group of band members, along with many of the school's teachers, into the school that day, and about a dozen RCMP officers are now keeping the peace within the building.

Band members who began the sit-in last month met with officials from Indian Affairs and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), RCMP officers specializing in negotiations and New Horizon, Piapot First Nation's third-party managers.

INAC officials said after the meeting that no agreement was possible because, in the words of INAC media representative James Parker, their demands were "totally unreasonable."

He said those demands included a meeting with Prime Minister Paul Martin, the dismissal of all teachers who were hired to work at Payepot School and the removal of the band councillor responsible for the education portfolio.

At a press conference held at Piapot First Nation on Nov. 5, more than 25 family members of students enrolled in the school demanded the end of the protest.

Rose Carrier, one of those who spoke to the media, said the entire school year and therefore the future of the students was in jeopardy if the demonstration continued.

"Are they realizing the consequences we face if the protest doesn't come to an end?" she said. "The protestors are thinking of themselves, not our children or our community."

Carrier also expressed fear that if no resolution is found soon, INAC will close the school and bus the reserve's children to Regina schools instead.

Those leading the sit-in to change the school's curriculum were unavailable for comment as of press time.

The dispute began over criticisms of the school's modified learning program. The curriculum groups students according to their learning capabilities after an assessment. The teaching method targets the learning to the students' capabilities.

"In a traditional classroom, a teacher may be teaching to a class of 30. The teacher tries to aim for a middle ground. Sometimes that doesn't provide enough stimuli for the higher achiever, yet the lower achievers drop out," said INAC representative Trevor Sutter.

"The current teaching method is something that's aimed at achieving success."

The curriculum and teaching methods have been endorsed by Saskatchewan Learning and is being used in some Regina schools, as well as in schools on other reserves, including Standing Buffalo and Carry the Kettle.

Those opposed to the modified learning program say their children aren't receiving a good education because they are being unfairly placed in lower educational streams.

INAC received an injunction from Court of Queen's Bench early in November directing protestors to leave the school or risk arrest. Copies of the injunction weren't served on the original demonstrators but were left at the school's front door and taped to the gates of the school, the school's entrance and the homes of the protestors. Copies were also left at the Piapot band hall, the band, office and a band-owned gas bar.

As of Nov. 9, RCMP officers had made no effort to force demonstrators from either side out of the school, said RCMP media representative Heather Russell.

Before the demonstrations began four weeks ago, about 180 students from kindergarten to Grade 12 attended the school