‘I just want to stay home, and be safe:’ students react to Sept. return to school in a pandemic

We’ve heard a lot from the province, from parents and from the teachers union on the return to school on Sept. 8.

But, one voice seems to be missing, which may be the most important:

The students actually returning to class.

Both students 650 CKOM spoke to for this story had permission to speak to us from their parents.

Madison Brentnell is heading to Regina’s Balfour Collegiate for her Grade 9 year come September.

She said she is excited, but does have some concerns.

“Personally, I want to go back to school. It’s weird though. It will be different,” she said.

“People aren’t going to be very smart when it comes to wearing masks.”

In many school divisions, including Regina Public Schools which has Balfour under its jurisdiction, Grades 4 to 12 are required to wear masks.

Brentnell said she’s okay with wearing a mask at school but is nervous about a COVID-19 spike in her school.

“I feel like as a student, I don’t really feel like anyone was asking us (what we wanted). I feel like it was more of a teacher and government sort of (issue) that they were making the decisions (for us),” she explained.

“I feel like it would be a little more beneficial if we had a little bit more of a say.”

On the other end, 7-year-old Jacob Issa is heading into Grade 2 in Saskatoon.

“I don’t want to go back because I’m scared of this COVID,” he said. “I just want to stay home, and be safe.”

Issa said his friends also don’t want to head back to class, and he’s worried that he will catch the virus heading back to class.

On Monday, Premier Scott Moe announced the province would provide $40 million in funding to school divisions as they prepare for students to return to class, and that there would be an increase in testing.