The kids are paying attention. Yes, the kids are paying attention and see a lot more than perhaps the adults think!
Ella, my six year-old daughter, said to us, “do gases make it not snow? Because, if they do then we need to go to the gas station and tell them to stop selling gases.”
On balance, she has it just about correct.
They listen intently
School groups regularly visit the legislature. We look up in question period from our seats and see their eyes peering back at us from the gallery.
A class from the Gulf Islands Secondary School sent me an envelope with a handwritten letter from each student. Their observations of the behaviour of their elected officials was sobering and embarrassing. (Check out my Statement reading some of their comments into the record. It was not popular!)
Recently, a group of students led by Rebecca Wolf Gage decided to take the day off school and stand on the stone steps demanding their leaders to take climate action seriously. My colleague Sonia met them, took them for a tour of the legislature and introduced them to the Speaker and Andrew Weaver.
Check out these #climatestrike kids at @BCLegislature today. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/3MbQSZ1h9A
— Maeve Maguire (@cowichandale) December 7, 2018
They wanted us to remember that even though they are not old enough to vote, they are old enough to stand for something. And, that they are watching, listening and paying attention.
One of the best parts of being an MLA is the opportunity to visit students in their classroom. The latest of such visits was at Phoenix Elementary School on Salt Spring Island.
The students were prepared with thoughtful questions about government, my life and background. In their introductions they also highlighted their interests which included crystals, food, making jewelry, writing, drawing and economics. They are quite a talented group.
When our session was coming to an end we decided to create a list of the biggest issues that concerned the grade four to eight students.
Our kids are paying attention
Climate change. Global warming. Homelessness. Housing. Food Security. Food quality. Clean water, air and soil.
Our children are in tune with the biggest issues we face in the 21st century.
When we discuss a policy in our caucus we always ask how it will impact the right of future generations to have clean air, water and soil.
Indeed, it is not lost on us that the kids are paying attention.
Thanks for all the work you are doing! I’m feeling more positive about what is going on in BC now with some decent people in the provincial government.
We are watching and hoping that you all will walk your talk, unlike some of the greedy, money grabbing reps in the past few years.
We are going to be the killers of life on Earth and the end of life as we know it if we don’t start taking climate change, housing, care for the land and water now. Not in 10 years, but now! I fear for our children.
Thanks for your time.
Regards,
Deborah Sexton