Pupil strike on Friday over climate change.

[justasking111]

DS said on Friday the pupils at his school might walk out on Friday over climate change. I did not realise at the time it was a national thing. Not impressed with this, what are the children going to do for three hours. We have had nothing official from the school. Has anyone?

www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/08/global-school-strikes-over-climate-change-head-to-the-uk

I took my primary aged children to the protest in our town.

The kids refreshed their knowledge about climate change, talked about what kind of agency they might have when they’re older to help fight climate change (careers in engineering or science, being a responsible consumer, being politically engaged etc) and learnt about striking. All this knowledge will sink in well because it was an unusual day out. Plus it’s good for the kids to see that there are lots of people who care about the world and will try to make a difference. (Hopefully they won’t bump into any of the previous posters )

Mine went to the march and then went back to school in time for afternoon lessons! I think protest like this is important and I hope councils and Government take notice.

Yes we need larger countries to get on board but we could set an example by being much better ourselves.

“anything that is done to prevent the destruction of the planet is a good thing“
This

I saw a banner with the slogan "There is no planet B".
Good that they recognise this.
Mine went to the Geneva one a few weeks back, I'm proud that they care.

Just an excuse to take the day off school. Climate data is heavily edited and used as justification for mass migration from Africa. I don't buy it.

My ds’s school said that if they wanted to go to the protest they would be marked as an authorised absence if they wrote an acceptable formal letter explaining why. Otherwise it was unauthorised.

I would be far more impressed if they did without their mobile phones for a day (or week), mmmmmm bet that won't happen though, just a few hours off school, yeh right....................thats a really good protest (not)

grumiosmum

That BBC link just makes me even more convinced the whole thing is just a kids’ day off.

Chips on the way home.

Since over-population is the main threat to the planet, I assume when these pupils are adults they won't be procreating?

I would be more impressed if they walked to school
Didn't buy throw away fashion
Didn't buy drinks in plastic bottles
Didn't constantly charge phones

A march to and from school would be a way of protesting. Have to agree about the throw away fashion observation.

Many of the actions to alleviate climate change also benefit energy security (and indeed support local jobs).

I would be delighted if my child showed this much interest in, and concern about, climate change. It is the single biggest issue affecting their future.

Anyone giving up the skiing holiday or summer hols to Goa ? Nah just offset those with a bit of re cycling, the dolphins will appreciate it ..

I think it's more a case of saying that you'd be prepared to be taxed up to your eyeballs to go to Goa. That you'd vote for that.

People are so mean spirited about these children. It’s very sad.

People are so mean spirited about these children. It’s very sad.

Nothing would have been said if this ‘action’ had been taken on a weekend or in a school holiday.

Oh, lookey here...it’s half-term in much of the

...country.

...next week.

I did the same thing in my day. It was the Iraq war then, about half the school went into town to protest. (Including most of the boffins, so it's not like we just wanted to skip lessons). Fat lot of good that did of course, but I wouldn't oppose today's children doing the same.

Although just leaving school and going home wouldn't be much of a protest, unless it's protesting what the individual school is doing, which I don't think is the case with the climate stuff.

Much like a workplace strike, if a significant portion of the students walk out on the same day I think the school usually won't, and can't reasonably, do much. Unless they've locked the students in like a prison.

My eldest took part, leaving school at 11.30 and joined a demonstration. I was delighted she took a stand on something she believes in. I was happy to accompany her.

And to pre-empt all the inevitable "whataboutery" that is going on from some people we have taken plenty of steps to reduce our carbon footprint. I suspect more than many of the sceptics on this thread.

And had this action been taken on a weekend it wouldn't have had nearly as much impact. I really don't think missing a few hours of school will have much of a negative impact on her education.

Totally agree with this action.It is their future after all.

And had this action been taken on a weekend it wouldn't have had nearly as much impact.

Apart from a bit of (mostly scornful) news coverage and a couple of threads on Mumsnet, what “impact” has this time- and money-wasting nonsense had?

I haven't heard about it until just read this, dd knows nothing either.

“I really hate how some posters here are belittling their children’s intelligence and their power to change things.”

Likewise. We let our elder DC go: I saw the photos of him and his friends looking totally exhilarated and loving being a part of something bigger than them, something with a positive purpose and felt a pang for my earlier years! Did the naysayers never get the smallest taste of that in their lives?

I’m hoping it’s a jump-off point for him to start thinking about how much he consumes and what sort of difference he can make in the world, even if it’s on the smallest of scales.