It’s unlikely the student climate action strike will result in any change in government policy, or even that any politicians were paying much attention.
And yes, many of those students that left their classrooms behind were more interested in some time off rather than committing themselves to a cause.
But none of that means the student action was pointless. We want students to leave school with a good education in the basics, but reading, writing and arithmetic aren’t the only knowledge needed to make a good life.
For kindergarten to Grade 12—especially in those high school years—an important part of education is teaching children to be members of society. That includes the occasional protest, and the youth protestors are part of a tradition stretching back generations.
Nor should the student’s choice of agenda be seen as coming from a left-wing conspiracy out to hijack our education system.
There are few people in our communities that are more powerless than youth, and few with more to lose from the poor decisions and lack of action on the part of adults when it comes to climate change and the environment.
Is it any surprise that youth are worried about what kind of world we are leaving them?
True, the student protestors didn’t have any specific demands or goal other than attracting attention to issues they see as important. But then, these are kids; they are not yet scientists or planners with the knowledge and skill to lay out detailed five (or 50) year plans based on their research and experience.
What they can do have, though, are worries. Whether or not you believe a pipeline expansion is beneficial—or just inevitable—doesn’t mean others can’t be concerned about our long-term and ever-growing reliance of fossil fuels.
Even if you aren’t concerned about the destruction of rain forests, here and abroad, doesn’t mean others shouldn’t be concerned about the effects on the air we breathe, habitat and long-term effects of climate change.
Just like past generations, today’s youth don’t need a conspiracy of left-wing influencers to realize the world they are going to inherit is messed up. They can, and are, making up their own minds.
The students, both those who stayed in class and those who walked out, were participating in an educational exercise; learning that protest and civil discourse are an important part of how a democratic system works.
Not all learning happens in the classroom.
–Black Press