Kia ora everyone.
Some of you may be aware that school students around New Zealand are organising a School Strike for the Climate, in order to demand stronger action from government on Climate Change. A previous strike occurred in New Zealand and internationally on 15th March, the current strike is being planned for Friday 24th May.
Room 1 students at St Gerards have been studying Climate Change, and we recently hosted local climate scientist Greg Bodeker to our class for a question and answer time. In the nationwide 'Census in schools' survey students recently took, 28 of our class stated that Climate Change was an 'urgent issue'.
11 students from Room 1 have indicated they are wanting to take part in some action on that day. The upcoming strike is a student-lead strike and not one organised by adults, nor is it promoted by schools, although I (Mr Yeoman) have brought to the student's attention the fact the strike is happening. I will be taking no further part in promoting any strike action.
These students will need to discuss with their whānau, and together whānau will need to make their own decisions around what action they are happy for students to take part in on the day. Whānau would need to know that this is not a school activity, and that therefore students would have to be marked absent - that is what makes this a potentially more powerful statement by students attending the strike.
The only role I, as an adult and as a teacher, would play is to help our St Gerards students to make contact with other school leaders who might assist them in their planning for the day.
For further information see the School Strike for Climate website and Facebook page. This movement was inspired by the actions of Swedish school student Greta Thunberg, here is a good summary of her story - Greta Thunberg - which will help build a greater understanding of the context and magnitude of this student action.
Please discuss this with your child and if you have any questions or would like to discuss further please contact me by email.
Ngā mihinui
Mr Yeoman
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