In May 2019, students all around the world came together, walking out of school to protest politicians’ lack of action in stopping climate change. Inspired by 16 year old Greta Thunberg, a climate change activist, including students as young as elementary schoolers protested in order to send the message that even if their governments sit idle, they refuse to let the planet be destroyed. On September 13th, Greta and a group of protesters were outside the White House in Washington D.C. Students walked out on September 20, and another protest will take place on Monday, September 23. 

A club at ERHS, Students Demand Action, are organizing to attend the protests on Friday and Monday. These will be counted as excused absences, as Mr. McNeil is giving students permission to go as long as they have signed and submitted a form that verifies they are part of the protest group. A large group of students attended the protests on Friday, and more hope to attend on Friday, October 4. 

Student Leena Mohammed was interviewed at the protest, and the video went viral. She speaks passionately about the environment and the lack of action and sentiment from elected officials. “Our future is in your hands. We shouldn’t have to beg you to care.” 

In a recent poll of Eleanor Roosevelt students regarding their perceptions of their community’s relation to climate change, 64% of students said that they did not believe that ERHS is doing enough to lessen its carbon footprint, while the rest reported that they didn’t have enough information to make a decision. Several students shared similar sentiments, stating that “If the school is doing anything, the students don’t see it.” Many students suggested that a good place to start would be to implement [more effective] recycling bins and food waste bins. 

In a recent interview with Samantha Osuji of the Environmental Club, she stated that the school has taken some steps on an individual level to do their part to lessen climate change. “A lot of teachers are advising students on recycling, and many of them are trying to cut down on paper usage.” Along with the majority of students, it seems to her that the school is merely under a “facade of caring about the environment”, and it is precisely that facade of caring that is perpetuating the disastrous effects of climate change. 

Of the students polled, 92% said that they believe the American government is not doing enough to fight climate change. But Osuji encourages students to help the environment in any way they can, through ways such as using reusable water bottles and to trying to recycle whenever possible. Thunberg hopes that students will take matters into their own hands to protect the future of this planet.