Churchill students rally to support teachers

By Lethbridge Herald on October 7, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

A small but vocal group of students from Winston Churchill High School gathered outside their school Monday, to show their support for not only their teachers but all teachers across the province during the first day of strike. 

Myles Angyal, Grade 12 student and rally organizer said he wanted to show his support to teachers because to them support is everything. 

“They have already received so much backlash, but do they have any other choice? They are sacrificing their wages to create a better education system for everybody in Alberta,” said Angyal. 

He said as a Grade 12 student, the strike is impacting his education and this is causing him a lot of stress, but he still felt the need to support all teachers across the province.

“The situation is out of my control, so the least I can do is show my support for them,” said Angyal. 

He shared that one of the reasons he wanted to support the teachers was because his own classroom conditions, which are overcrowded. 

“In my afternoon classes, there are 37 people each to one teacher. No educational aids, or nothing, one teacher directing everybody,” said Angyal. “The smallest class I have is my morning Art 30 class, with 22 people. Something I haven’t seen since Grade 5.” 

Gavin McIntyre, a Grade 12 student taking part in the rally said he was there to support teachers because, in his opinion, they do not receive enough appreciation for all that they do for their students. 

“They are overworked, they are underpaid, they spend their own money on classroom supplies because funding is so limited, and they have to teach more students than it is reasonable for one teacher,” said McIntyre. 

He said the strike is impacting him in many ways, including academically, socially, and mentally as he is worried about how this could impact his future applications to post-secondary education. 

“This is my last year, and I need good grades for university applications, and also extra curricular clubs are not being held,” said McIntyre. 

He added that many students are also being impacted by sports being on hold, and for many Grade 12 students this is their last year to take part in sports.