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Blackrock College Urges Parents Not To Let Their Children Attend Climate Strikes

The principal of Blackrock College in Dublin has asked parents not to let their children attend tomorrow's Global Climate Strike. Despite stating his support for the cause, he wrote that the strikes were "a tad infuriating" and were having "a negative impact on schooling". Should schools be encouraging and allowing students to take part? Arthur Godsil, former headmaster at St. Andrew's College and director of Godsil Education, says it would be better if such events were held at weekends so that students would not have to miss school. "There are always those who will jump on the bandwagon, and that's an issue for schools." "School management have an obligation to be able to communicate with students about the importance of their cause, and at the same time be able to show them that balance is required." Environmental journalist John Gibbons argues that it should be a vital part of the school curriculum. "What is education if not preparing children for the world ahead? Surely the parents of Blackrock College deserve better than this one-eyed view of education." "This is an inter-generational issue. Children and teenagers are far and away going to suffer more from climate change than people of my generation." Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page. see more