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Original poster

Pupil strike on Friday over climate change.

248 replies

justasking111 · 10/02/2019 14:20

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

OP posts:
Aliceinwanderland · 15/02/2019 21:35

It has headline news coverage on the BBC and most news outlets. It's drawn support from lots of politicians ( including the energy minister), it raises awareness and sends a message that change is needed and wanted. Quite frankly politicians won't change unless they are challenged to do so. And if the world, and particularly the developed world, doesn't cut its carbon footprint dramatically and do we are all going to hell in a handcart. Personally I am genuinely terrified as to what the world will look like when my kids are middle aged if things don't change fast. Against that background I really couldn't give a stuff if she misses a few days of school.

Pinkbells · 15/02/2019 21:48

Mine are too young at the moment (still at primary school) but when I heard about it on the radio I was pretty impressed. Well done all the kids involved. If it were my kids I would be actively supporting and encouraging them.

Pinkbells · 15/02/2019 21:51

Well said, Rhianna1980

DippyAvocado · 15/02/2019 21:56

So great to see young people getting involved in activism.

callmeadoctor · 15/02/2019 22:12

These young people should be at school, they have enjoyed a few hours off, how on earth are they justifying this? its not like they have lost anything or endured a bit of hardship is it? Let them do without the internet for a week, then I might think they had a point! But a few hours off school? Really? Gosh how brave and inspirational (not!!!)

callmeadoctor · 15/02/2019 22:13

Why would you actively support your child for doing something so easy and with no consequences?

Sparklingbrook · 15/02/2019 22:15

Nothing at all happened here. DS2 went to school as normal thankfully.

noraclavicle · 15/02/2019 22:16

callmeadoctor, it’s getting them thinking about something with much bigger consequences

callmeadoctor · 15/02/2019 22:16

Volunteering at a food bank or Old peoples home would at least have had more value, no they had a few hours off school (and I bet they had a lift to the nearest demo, bet they didn't walk!)

Sadik · 15/02/2019 22:17

Some friends DC took part - I've seen pictures of a big group of teens in County Hall having a discussion with the County councillors & presenting them with information & reports. Doesn't sound much like skiving off to me!

callmeadoctor · 15/02/2019 22:17

How is a few hours off school getting them to think about consequences (genuine question) surely something more useful could have been planned.

callmeadoctor · 15/02/2019 22:18

Sadik, would they have given up their internet for a week?

callmeadoctor · 15/02/2019 22:19

Would they have given up charging their phones for a week?

callmeadoctor · 15/02/2019 22:22

I am all for student protests, I think its a great idea. But a few hours off school just doesn't cut it for me (and I remember when we all protested about scientists testing cigarettes on beagles, we all wrote letters when I was about 12) so i think protesting is brilliant. However it shouldn't be such an easy excuse to duck out of school.

Sadik · 15/02/2019 22:23

I don't know, as I don't know the children concerned well callmeadoctor but I'm not sure that's really a sensible question to ask.

I suspect that like most of us they would wish the council to promote renewable energy (planning for wind turbines is a particular issue round here), sustainable transport (bus services are a big deal for teenagers as we're a rural area), and other practical policies that could help the environment while allowing us all to continue living a 21C lifestyle.

WarpedGalaxy · 15/02/2019 22:31

A few posters are very dismissive of the whole thing, a couple appear almost offended by it. Meh. Thing is even if the kids haven’t effected any measurable change by their actions then, hey, no one’s lost anything (except a few lessons) and we’re no worse off today than we were yesterday.

If, however, there’s even the tiniest chance that someone with the clout to actually do something about climate change was paying attention to these voters of the future, who knows what might come from it?

SurfClub · 15/02/2019 22:32

My children's school organised a mass litter pick of the campus during the time in recognition of the day which I thought was a good way of accepting the message without any angst. Although we would be a very long way from any official protests. my youngest used the time to play football with his friends so he didn't really get the point

noraclavicle · 15/02/2019 22:39

bet they had a lift to the nearest demo, bet they didn't walk

Oh fgs, stop being so chippy and negative! Just listen to yourself! Have you been reading the Express & Telegraph coverage by any chance? They’ve twisted everything positive about the day into something miserable and bitter. And for what it’s worth, DS & all his friends took public transport and walked the last 2 miles to Parliament Square.

KissingInTheRain · 15/02/2019 22:40

A litter pick is a genuinely good way to care for - and show that you care for - the environment. Good on your children and their school.

A load of shouty posturing teens blocking up towns and being self-important, not so much.

grumiosmum · 15/02/2019 22:44

A litter pick just isn't enough to avert climate catastrophe though!

We need much more drastic action at government level, at local level and as individuals.

That's the point of our kids' protesting, and Extinction Rebellion too.

I'm staggered at the people on this thread who just seem to willingly stick their heads in the sand.

KissingInTheRain · 15/02/2019 22:53

Believing that government and industry should address climate change has nothing to do with teenagers skiving off school for a day.

I really wonder whether the parents on here that are excusing these skiving kids are actually just promoting their own views of themselves: aren’t we super people: just look at how Emily and Zac go on demos.

RevolvingBananaHaiku · 15/02/2019 22:57

Pupils from our school went. If they had parental permission (letter, email or phone call to the Head) they weren't stopped from going off site. The bandwaggoners were quickly scuppered. I thought it was handled well and pupils were able to stand up for whag they believed in if genuine.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 15/02/2019 22:59

Well it's their futures at risk, not ours. I never let my children out of school for anything, but would have supported them on this

KissingInTheRain · 15/02/2019 23:07

Well it's their futures at risk, not ours.

I’d be more inclined to believe that if nearly all children weren’t following ludicrous make up channels or unboxing videos on YouTube.

crackofdoom · 15/02/2019 23:09

Wow, some people on this thread don't really think much of teenagers, do they? Hmm.

Some parents at DS's primary took their kids out of school for this, but I didn't as I thought it should be initiated and led by the young people, and DS hasn't asked to go. If he does ask to go to the next one I'll take him though, and I wholeheartedly support the strikers.

Can I ask the posters who are saying that this action will "make no difference" what WOULD make a difference in their opinion, and what they're doing themselves to bring that about?