Students in the hairstyling diploma program and the hairstyling apprenticeship program at Georgian College are upset and confused after being told to come back to the Barrie campus for in-class assignments starting next week. They have been away from the classroom since the holiday break.
“We just got put on a stay-at-home order by the government and now you are telling us we have to go back to school? That doesn’t make much sense,” said Leanna Conte, a student in the level two apprenticeship hairstyling program.
According to Conte, students were told by teachers at Georgian College that the school will be implementing COVID-19 safety protocols to keep students safe when they return to the classroom next week. If students decide to not show up to class, they will be losing marks, Conte says.
“How can they enforce us to go back to school when most of the other Georgian students aren’t going back to school yet?” Conte asked.
Students of both hairstyling programs come from all over the province. Conte is a resident of York Region.
“It’s a scary time and we don’t know what’s going on. I would prefer to not go to school if it can be done online, which it easily can be,” Conte said.
Last March, when the pandemic closed the campus, hairstyling programs were moved online, and students were able to adapt and finish the semester without any issues according to Conte.
Many students are confused as to why the programs can’t be moved online once again.
“A teacher asked me what’s the difference between us going to class and us having to go to the grocery store, and we get that, obviously. But you can’t really compare the two; we have to eat, but we don’t have to do a hairstyle,” Conte said.
“If I can’t go have a coffee with my friends at the local Tim Hortons, I’m not going to put myself at school with people I don’t really know.”
Tim Krywulak, Associate Dean for Design and Visual Arts at Georgian College, issued a statement saying some theoretical components of the hairstyling program can, and are, being delivered in a virtual format.
However, there are some practical components that cannot be effectively demonstrated or evaluated in that way, he said.
“A faculty member cannot assess the full process and outcome of a haircut in a virtual format. They also cannot assess colouration techniques and outcomes in a virtual format (using pictures alone). In some cases, students also don't have access to the products and equipment they need to fully complete the learning outcomes at home versus within our Hair Salon,” he said in the statement.
Krywulak says the health and safety of the community is Georgian College’s priority and their protocols ensure the risk of transmitting COVID-19 is minimized to the greatest extent possible.
Krywulak provided OrilliaMatters with the following examples of lab-specific protocols that are in place for the hairstyling programs.
- Wash hands/use hand sanitizer upon entry into the lab/shop.
- Follow the pathway identified by their faculty/technologists to their designated workspace.
- Remain at workstation unless directed by the instructor.
- Advise instructor if you need to leave the lab for any reason.
- Clean/disinfect individual workstations, including sweeping of hair.
- This includes chair, counter surface, mirror, floor mat, tray and shelves.
- Wipe/sanitize the broom handle after use.
- Ensure only one student per work station.
- Clean each tool/piece of equipment they use, prior to using it.
- Students will also clean each tool/piece of equipment after they use it.
- Exit via designated exit doors as posted.
- Follow the arrows and maintain 2-metre physical distance.
- Hand sanitize as they exit the shop/lab.
