Pupils given go-ahead for climate protests

Schools will allow time off so long as parents agree to children’s participation

Children in Perth and Kinross have been given the green light from schools to take time off to participate in environmental protests.

A council spokeswoman has said pupils are encouraged to get involved in the strike action but insisted they must obtain authorisation from parents beforehand.

Youth climate strikes are planned for Crieff and Dundee on Friday September 20 and could see thousands of pupils across Perth and Kinross demand politicians take action on global warming.

The council said: “We welcome and encourage young people to take a pro-active interest in matters that will affect their lives and those of others.

“Any decision about taking time out of school for specific events are a matter for parents and carers. The council respects these decisions and will continue to respect them.”

Schools will remain open as normal.

School pupils across Tayside and Fife have been told they can miss classes to take part in climate change protests.

Youth climate strikes are planned for Dundee and Crieff on Friday September 20, and could see thousands of pupils walk out of school to urge politicians to do something about global warming.

A letter from Grove Academy, Broughty Ferry, to parents encouraged pupils to take part but said they must have written permission, otherwise their absence will be marked as “unauthorised”.

The school will remain open as normal despite the action.

A Dundee City Council spokeswoman said the advice applies to all schools across the city.

The letter also states while they do not encourage further days of action, no disciplinary action will be taken against pupils who take part in the protests with parental permission.

Figures show that more than 910,000 school days were lost across Scotland in 2017. In Perth and Kinross, the council said it will “respect” pupils’ right to protest.

A spokeswoman said: “Climate change is one example of a subject that is investigated, considered and debated across Perth and Kinross Council schools.

“We welcome and encourage young people to take a pro-active interest in matters that will affect their lives and those of others.

“Any decisions about taking time out of school for specific events are a matter for parents and carers. The council respects these decisions and will continue to respect them, including for the School Strikes 4 Climate proposal.” In Fife, no explicit policy exists. Shelagh McLean, head of education, said: “We do not have a policy relating specifically to climate change strikes.

“The curriculum of our schools encourages citizenship in a range of important ways. We encourage our young people to take an interest in issues that will affect their future.

“However, decisions about taking time out of school for specific events sit with parents and families. Parents may want to discuss related aspects of this issue with their child’s school.

“On an individual basis, we would respect decisions made by young people and, of course, their parents and carers.”

An Angus council spokesman said parents would have to explain absences. He said: “The position in Angus is unchanged – as with our established policies, we will always seek to establish the individual circumstances of any young person who is recorded as absent from school without explanation.”

Nicola Sturgeon recently declared a climate emergency and, in outlining her new programme for government earlier this month, Scotland’s first minister put the threat from global warming front and centre of the agenda.

Ms Sturgeon set out proposals for Scotland to become a net zero emissions nation, said investment decisions would be made with their wider environmental impact firmly in mind and detailed plans to radically overhaul the country’s transport infrastructure.

That policy framework comes at what feels like a tipping point in the struggle against climate change.

The Extinction Rebellion movement has gained traction around the globe and, following the example of young pioneers such as Greta Thunberg, tens of thousands of schoolchildren around the world have taken up the cause to fight for a cleaner, safer planet.

Events such as the bleaching of seabed coral reefs, the melting of the polar ice sheets and huge industrial fires in the Amazon have given visual context to a subject which still inflames passions on both sides of the debate.

Next week, thousands of school pupils in Tayside and Fife will leave their desks and take direct action in support of progressive climate change legislation.

Some question the decision to allow schoolchildren to leave their studies and participate. But their voice matters in this debate and it should be heard.