Maskless students held in Bowden school boot room

Parents are outraged, 12 to 14 students at the Bowden Grandview School have been banished to a small boot room for choosing not to wear a mask in school.

Heated emotions over the incident forced the school to go into a lockdown with the RCMP outside.

The school has been put in what’s called a “lock and hold” said James Waiting, a parent of two Bowden school students.

Waiting arrived at 2:30 p.m. with his wife and spoke with an RCMP officer on-site at the school.

“He said some parents had come and were beaking off at the principal and the principal has also received some threatening calls, so that’s why they locked down the school,” Waiting told the Western Standard.

Waiting said his daughter Isabella told him, “A semi-truck with a big Canada flag did a slow-roll past the school while laying on his horn.”

The protest from students in the K to 12 school began Tuesday with four students. All four were asked to go home by school officials.

On Wednesday, more students participated in the protest and refused to leave the school so were placed in a small boot room approximately 15 ft. by 20 ft.

Waiting, the father of two students who attend Bowden Grandview School and who both participated in Wednesday’s mask protest, said both his children were sent to the boot room for the day.

“They have the kids in this boot room on display like a sideshow,” said Waiting.

“They said they felt like a science experiment — like caged animals.”

Waiting said the kids sent pictures showing temperatures were close to 29C, but were told by teachers they were not permitted to open the outer doors to let air in.

“Everyone needs to know what is happening right now — it’s complete segregation,” said Waiting.

“It’s like racism. It’s no different from segregating between black and white people.”

Waiting’s daughter told the Western Standard she feels what’s happening to her and other students is unfair.

Isabella is again shut in the boot room at the Bowden school on Thursday with about 12 to 14 other children.

“I know for me, wearing a mask affected my health mentally and physically and I can’t really breathe in a mask,” the Grade 7 student said.

Isabella said the temperature in the boot room is above 30C, but said students have just opened the outer doors to cool off, despite being told not to by teachers.
Picture of temperature in Bowden school boot room – provided

Both Wednesday and Thursday, Isabella said she and other students had been forced to sit in the boot room because they say they no longer want to be forced to wear masks.

According to parents, the maskless students were told they had to leave the school Thursday morning when they arrived, but they proceeded into the boot room and sat down to “show they wanted to be present at school for their education.”

“I feel I have a right to an education,” Isabella said.

She said the teachers “babysitting” them have not provided them with power for their Chromebooks and requests for students to get needed items from their lockers have been ignored.

“I need help with some of my work and those that are babysitting us just don’t help.”

When Isabella asked how she could turn in finished assignments, she said she was told she could turn them in when she returned to school.

“I told them, ‘I am at school,’ and they said, ‘no you’re not.’ I just don’t think they are being fair,” said Isabella.

Waiting said both his children had been complying with the mask rules up until Wednesday. His son decided not to participate in the mask protest again today.

“He knows he can’t get behind so he decided to wear a mask today,” said Waiting.

“I was following the rules because I felt alone when I wasn’t and I feel like we are just being silenced now,” said Isabella.

The Western Standard contacted the Bowden Grandview School, as well as the Chinook’s Edge School Division for comment, but hasn’t heard back.

Sarah Strauss, a parent of two other Bowden school students, said she didn’t know Owen — her son in Grade 6 — was planning to refuse to wear a mask.

According to Strauss, Owen went to school on Tuesday and, along with four other students, did not put his mask on when asked by school officials and was asked to leave the school along with the other students.

“When I first spoke with Owen about this on Tuesday, he said, ‘Mom, I’ve been wearing a mask for two years and I’m done,'” said Strauss.

“So, I just said we would support him.”

Owen returned on Wednesday with his older brother Grayson (Grade 8) and both boys chose not to wear a mask. School officials told the nine to 10 maskless students they were not permitted to attend classes but when they refused to leave the school, they were put in the boot room for the day.

Thursday, 12 to 15 students remained maskless and were told to leave the school. However, the students refused and were again left under supervision in the boot room.

“I told the boys you have to be respectful and kind,” said Strauss.

“You have to do your school work and show them you want to be learning.”

Strauss said she feels it is confusing for children to see so many differing rules for mask use.

“I just think there is lots of evidence that shows this virus doesn’t really affect kids,” said Strauss adding she has two other children in elementary who have been struggling to learn with the masks.

“These masks aren’t helping and I don’t think they are appropriate.

“I’m just sad kids have to worry about this kind of stuff and I am glad to see them finally taking a stand.”

The Western Standard spoke with Katherine Stavropoulos, press secretary to education minister Adriana LaGrange, who said the minister’s office is aware of the situation in the Bowden school and would provide comments shortly.

More to come…

Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard
mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com