South Fork Students Say They Were Discouraged From Marching in Climate Strike

On Friday, September 27, millions of kids around the globe left classrooms to call for adults to take better care of their future by acting to reverse carbon emissions and other activities causing Earth’s global average temperature to raise dangerously high. About 80 to 100 youth from South Fork High participated in the worldwide Student Strike for the Climate that end-capped the Global Week for Future. Several we interviewed said they were discouraged from participating.

We spoke with South Fork High School students during their lunch period, Monday, September 30 to ask how it went Friday and what compelled them to participate in the Student Strike for the Climate.

They said that they were pleased with how Friday’s climate strike played out. Apparently, there hadn’t been a formal plan, but that students wanted to show the community that South Fork High students take this matter seriously. They said they hadn’t planned to march, but that “they marched by animal instinct.” The formal plan was to gather next door to the school and listen to one another’s speeches. After that was over, they “still had plenty of time,” so the marching began.  Whoever took the lead is unknown, but the group proceeded south to the Miranda Market and then north to “the grove,” and back to the school and into class for 5th period.

The kids we spoke to said they were actively discouraged from taking the school strike, but that students felt it is important to let their elected leaders know they are worried about their futures. These seven students say they have been told school teachers and faculty are prohibited from supporting protest activities, but they feel the climate issue is being treated differently than last year’s protest of weapons in the wake of school shootings.

According to the group, “Last year, students organized a protest against school shootings, and the principal was supportive.” But with climate change, they feel it was different. One person said, “Athletes were told, if they went to the [climate] protest, they would not be allowed to play.” The group concurred that the athletes had been told that, but that the consequence did not occur.

One student in the group said, “Teachers keep saying ‘climate change is a controversial issue,’ but its not, its just science.”

South Fork High’s Principal, Cyndi Aguiar, didn’t respond before publication.  We will update with her response when we receive it.

When the students were asked why they participated in the climate strike, they said responded: “Cuz it matters.” “We see other kids making their voices heard, but Humboldt tends to stay back.” And one said, “We are sheltered from the reality of climate change [by virtue of Humboldt’s mild climate,] but it’s happening, and we can be smart about it.”

They are inspired by Greta Thunberg of Sweden. One student said, “Greta, if you are reading, this we love you!”

They went on to say, “We can see the leaders aren’t going to do anything.” “Adults cannot control our thinking on this. Its our future.”
And, “We want to inspire people to take action on this themselves by writing letters, physically cleaning up [the environment,] making changes to the ways they use energy, and being conscious consumers.”

The students said they feel like they aren’t getting enough science education to speak clearly on the data. One said, “California teaching standards are supposed to include climate change but we haven’t really had it.” Another said, “In 7th grade we touched on it, but we haven’t focused on it.”

According to the students, Earth Science is the only life-science class being taught this year at South Fork High, and it is designed for freshman level students. Most of the students interviewed are in their junior and senior years. The one student who is in the Earth Science class says thus far they are learning about Astronomy and the science related to Earth’s core, but not its atmosphere or life cycles as of yet.

Another student continued the topic of science education at South Fork High, saying, “Students who want to excel in science have to take it online. It’s not an easy experience. If someone wanted to be a doctor from South Fork, they would have a really hard time is what I’m saying.”

When asked what reaction to the climate strike they’ve received, they said, “A lot of people thought it was through the school, but it wasn’t. It was each person’s own decision” whether or not they wanted to participate.  “No one gave anyone permission to leave the school.” Another added, “A protest is not something where you get permission from the oppressor.”

If asked whether it was going to become an ongoing event, someone said ‘No, we don’t want to get suspended.” They did say, “We want to do a couple more later in the year. We are still trying to improve recycling in our school.” They also talked about their pride in the school’s garden that contributes to the lunch meals and talked of their plan to paint a mural at the school.

To the students and the readers: this interview occurred with seven students on their lunch break, I wrote down all the students’ names, but couldn’t keep up with attributing all the quotes, so I attributed none of them.