Students across the province of Saskatchewan are feeling the impact of insufficient funding towards our education; from elementary students not being sufficient in reading and writing skills, to overly packed high school classes in which we cannot so much as receive feedback on work, as a result of the under-staffing and lack of support provided by the Saskatchewan Government. As the first semester of the year wraps up, Saskatoon students at Evan Hardy are heart-broken, angry, and afraid of the state of our school system. We are currently facing the, what feels inevitable, loss of a vastly influential and important educator, Mr. Dunphy, as a result of insufficient teaching positions across the city, and province. He is not only a pillar of our community, but a person in which we all find sanctuary, joy, knowledge and trust. Some of the impacts Mr. Dunphy has consistently had on Evan Hardy over the past three years include: coaching the Senior Boys Basketball team, being an advisor on the Student Representative Council, being an advisor on the Pep Rally Committee (which includes organizing, planning, supervising and bringing into reality students’ visions) and always having an open classroom door. This teacher is deserving of a permanent contract.

 Although it might be hard to empathize without having known Mr. Dunphy on a personal level, all students find peace in Mr. Dunphy’s classroom. He manages to know every kid and make them each feel seen, heard, and important, having never closed his classroom door (quite literally). Educators such as Mr. Dunphy are the reason we show up to school. He is a familiar face at every sports game, and a support to every student. 

 In the most recent report from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education, only 68 percent of students in Grade 3 are reading at grade level. That leaves 32 percent of students in a deficiency of the attention they should be receiving. Class sizes are overwhelming, to both students and teachers, with there not being enough resources to suffice to all needs (such as English Additional Language teachers and assistants, Educational Assistants for students with neurodivergence, disabilities, and trouble with unassisted learning). 

 We have created this petition in a final attempt not to lose a valued and loved teacher, as well as to hold the Saskatchewan Government accountable for their lack of responsibility in funding a proper education for all, in hopes of an increase in support for teachers beginning with increased job positions (possible by funding). We are appalled by the lack of action and fight for us. There are very limited ways in which as students we can share which teachers we really need, and this is one of them. Although nobody can understand the loss of Mr. Dunphy the way Evan Hardy students do, we hope to be heard.  

Sincerely, 

-The Students of Evan Hardy