Karen CarneyOn September 20, students all over the world held strikes and protests for action on global climate change. In anticipation, we led some lessons on climate change and the upcoming strike, talking about the science of climate change, how to take action, and the costs of some climate action, including possibly giving up some comforts or conveniences. It is important that students make informed choices about how they raise their voices. Integrity demands that anyone taking a stand should do so knowingly and willingly, and not simply because others are doing it. For this reason, we asked students to only participate in strike activities if they understood what they were asking for and believed in it.
I am proud to say that most members of the Chicago Friends School community chose to participate in global strike. A small group of middle school students went to the rally downtown with parents. The majority of the students decided to give up a portion of their recess to make signs and walk around our neighborhood, including on the busy commercial street near the school, where they were greeted with honks, cheers and high fives.
A handful of students did not participate and opted for a longer recess time instead. I am equally proud of them. Integrity demands that when raising one’s voice, we should always make sure we understand what we are saying and truly believe it should be said, and resist pressure to speak just because others are. Whatever their reasons, these students were true to them, and that is an important lesson as well.