Students warned of ‘fail’ marks if they skip school for climate strike
Thousands of Melbourne students have turned out to protest a lack of action on climate change, while activists have taken to nearby rooftops on Collins St. It comes as private schools issued a stern warning to their pupils that they could risk failing if they wag school.
Education
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Thousands of students have rallied on the steps of parliament this afternoon chanting slogans and calling for politicians to act on climate change before its too late.
Students as young as seven have been spotted holding signs sledging Prime Minister Scott Morrison and other political leaders, while a chants to stop the Adani mine rang out across Spring St.
STUDENTS: ‘WE DON’T WANT TO STRIKE’
EARLIER PROTEST: SCHOOL KIDS STRIKE
Police were forced to intervene after at least a dozen youths climbed on the roof of two high-rise buildings above the climate change protest in the CBD.
The Herald Sun saw at least two groups of youths, some carrying protest signs, on the top of the buildings on the corner of Spring St and Collins St, where the rally has been unfolding down below.
Police moved in just prior to 1pm to bring the students down, as they appeared to be putting themselves in danger by clambering along the roof.
Spring and Collins streets have been closed, affecting trams through the area.
Police are on the roof of a building on the corner of Collins St and Spring St, where young #ClimateStrike protesters have climbed up. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/38cVCWr4fy
— Tom Minear (@tminear) March 15, 2019
Pretty massive #ClimateStrike crowd on Spring St. â¦@theheraldsunâ© pic.twitter.com/RIpJeFNdPd
— Tom Minear (@tminear) March 15, 2019
‘We are all on the same team’
Ash and Jen Rosshandler attended with their three children Scarlett, 10, Gypsy, 8 and Johnny, 6.
“The decision to attend was motivated by us as parents because the kids’ school didn’t know about it,” Ms Rosshandler admitted.
But the pair said they felt compelled to show their children that protesting was a good was to send a message.
“I think it’s important to teach them to stand up for what they believe in. When you see all these kids out here with their signs … I think it’s really nice and really important that we all feel we are part of the human race and all on the same team.”
Mr Rosshandler said as parents he wanted to instilled values and concerns about the planet. “If we are all a product of our environment and we are killing our environment then what sort of a planet are we going to leave them? We have a joint responsibility.”
Daughter Scarlett, 10, appeared to share her parent’s concerns.
“I am worried about the pollution and the environment,” she said.
Thousands of school students have gathered outside the Old Treasury Building to call for urgent action on climate change. #9News pic.twitter.com/veBtBGeK6e
— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) March 15, 2019
The intersection of Spring Street, Collins Street and Macarthur Street is currently closed from all directions due to a protest. Avoid the intersection. Allow plenty of extra time through the CBD. #victraffic pic.twitter.com/FiLALnFLcK
— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) March 15, 2019
Sophie, 15, of Northcote High said she came because she wanted to make a difference. “We think there is not enough action happening from the leaders of this country,” she said. “We have support from the school to attend today but we are not learning enough about the issue.”
She said her number one concern was about “global warming in general.”
Anusan, 16, of Melbourne High School said he attended with class mates to witness what younger people were capable of doing together.
“In classes we don’t hear enough about it,” he said. He said the long term impact of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef remained his greatest concern. “I haven’t even been there yet,” he said. “That it is already getting destroyed is really sad.”
Most students approached by the Herald Sun admitted they didn’t understand the issues associated with the Adani mine debate — but hoped attending the protest would send a message.
Geologist Alastair Spooner brought his seven-year-old daughter to the rally.
“I think a lot of people are frustrated by inaction. These kind of protests are born of that inaction,” he said.
“As a geologist, I can tell you … most scientists think it is incredibly dangerous what the earth is going through now.
“Generally, people underestimate it and right now the worst case modelling seems to be the one that is tracking most accurately.
“If more people understood the science, more people would take action.”
Dr Spooner took aim at right-wing media and lobbying firms engaged by petrochemical companies that “muddied the waters and promoted bad science.”
“It was predicted, now it’s happening — we had nine of the 10 hottest years in history — what more do you want?”
Earlier, students at one eastern suburbs private school have been warned if they skip class to join thousands of pupils in a climate strike, their assessments — including for VCE — will be marked as a fail.
Siena College principal Gaynor Robson-Garth alerted pupils that the strike for climate change action tomorrow was not endorsed by the school.
Those who chose to take part would have their VCE coursework or other tasks recorded as “Not Assessed” with students getting no second chance to complete missed assessments, she said.
Thousands of pupils are set to strike in more than 50 Australian towns, including Melbourne, Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, Kyneton, Portland and Mirboo North.
The strike outside the Old Treasury building is set to draw the biggest Victorian crowd, with an estimated 10,000 pupils expected to attend, according to the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, which is assisting student organisers.
While Australian students striking against climate change have copped flak from senior ministers, Kiwi pupils marching on parliament have received a promise from their government.
Thousands of students across New Zealand on Friday joined peers in Australia and across the world in skipping class to call for greater government action on climate change.
Climate Change Minister James Shaw said: “It is time for the talking to stop. It is time for the action to start.”
He pledged the government would pass long-awaited carbon emission reduction legislation this year.
A further 500 people are expected at the Geelong event, 300 in Ballarat and 100 in Portland.
“We acknowledge the students’ right to give voice to their very genuine concerns regarding the Federal Government’s record on Climate Change Policy,” Mrs Robson-Garth wrote.
“Attendance at the strike will however be an ‘unapproved’ absence from school.”
The Herald Sun understands decisions on whether public school students will be able to resit assessments if they skip class are made by individual campuses, not the Department of Education.
Government schools have been sent notices alerting them that students must have a letter from their parents if they skip class for the rally.
It’s the second strike run by the same group, with students also skipping school on November 30 to call on the Federal Government to take action on climate change.
Strike co-ordinator Anthony James said taking drastic action by skipping school showed how much young people cared about the issue.
“We can’t vote — we’re leaving school to show we care about the planet,” he said.
“This gets people fired up.”
NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes took a hard line against the protests, stating students would be breaking the law if they wag.
But Premier Daniel Andrews said he “wouldn’t be upset” if his children, aged 16, 14 and 12, took part.
“A peaceful protest being concerned about the future and being active in the things you believe in — I would have thought that was a good thing,” he said.
“My view is we ought to celebrate the fact that they care.”
THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS PROTEST IN MELBOURNE
Liberal upper house leader David Davis said students should be in school doing “the work that’s necessary” rather than “extraneous activities”.
Public school Templestowe College published a newsletter note from its Environmental Action Group that called on adults to take the day off and “join us in solidarity”.
Meanwhile, more than 100 Australian authors have backed the student strikers.
Possum Magic author Mem Fox apologised to students, stating the strike wouldn’t be necessary “if my generation had been more caring and enlightened” while Treehouse author Andy Griffiths said the action gave him “great hope”.
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan had called on students to stay in school to commemorate the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence — also on tomorrow.
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