Teachers and students are sharpening their pencils in anticipation of a return to the classroom.


James Bedford from The Manitoba Teacher's Society (MTS) says they will be doing their homework to find ways to continue classroom education in the fall.

"The planning for September is just getting underway," Bedford says. "A lot of the work (teachers are doing) right now is about staying socially-connected with their students."

Since the closure of schools on March 23, parents and teachers have been working together to provide education for students. As a parent himself, Bedford is seeing first hand how the partnership is impacting relationships between parents and children.

"I need to acknowledge the work of parents over the last several months. I have a daughter in high school at home... I have watched her work on her schoolwork," he says. "As a parent and teacher I have been helping her out and I think a lot pf parents have been doing that."

Bedford says that they are thankful for the efforts of parents who have been working with teachers and their children to help them learn at home.

"These are the young people in our province. We have to be there for them."

He notes that many of their teachers are young women who have not only been teaching their students but their own children at home at the same time.

"Parents are among the best supporters of public school teachers in this province," Bedford says. "I think they know their children are going to be in great hands come the fall."

a plan in place yet.

"I think it is very safe to say there is going to be an impact, we just do not know what it is yet," he says. "I think playing a musical instrument outdoors is probably not as risky."

While having a band class outside in the winter will not be feasible, Bedford says teachers will be finding creative ways to teach.