VIDEO: Saunders students stop talking, but still send a big message
Danny Baylis, LondonTopic.ca
03/06/2009
About 200 students at Saunders secondary school remained silent for the day to bring attention to the plight of children in developing countries. Photos by Danny Baylis, LondonTopic.ca
"No comment" was given from students who organized Saunders secondary school's Vow of Silence, but that isn't to say they didn't make a statement, Thursday (March 5).
Close to 200 students participated by making a personal vow to remain silent for the day. However, the vow event didn't just stop verbal actions, students and some teaching and administration staff, refrained from emailing, text messaging, using their cell phones, and in some cases stopped using sign language.
The Saunders' Vow of Silence was aimed at raising awareness to the Free the Children Campaign, a charitable effort that sheds light on the plight of children in developing nations who can't speak out for their rights, safety or education.
Saunders principal Patricia Thompson, feels the vow of silence doesn't affect the learning process for one day but the lack of everyday communication, something that young Canadians could take for granted, hammers home the point of the Free the Children campaign.
Vow of Silence, Saunders secondary school
She said she was glad her pupils gained exposure to the knowledge that some children around the world don't have enough food, a safe home, let alone free schooling or cell phones and instant messaging.
"There wasn't a lot of decision making needed to let our students do this," Thompson said. "Anytime you have a group of youth raising awareness it's not surprising they want to aid the Free the Children campaign, and for one day it won't be interfering with learning it will be creating it."
Hema Kaura, Saunders teacher and organizer of the Vow of Silence, said students were able to take part as much as they wanted to. Some who had projects or other assignments that required talking were permitted but those who remained speechless the entire day were accommodated by there teachers.
"Its not like you have stop talking completely," Kaura said. "if you only want to stop talking for part of the day that's fine, it's about the metaphor behind your silence."
Comments:
Hats off to the students at Saunders. It's refreshing to see such an initiative taken on by so many young people today. Well done.
By: Johny Quest on 03/06/2009
She said she was glad her pupils gained exposure to the knowledge that some children around the world don't have enough food, a safe home, let alone free schooling or cell phones and instant messaging.
There's kids in Canada that don't have enough food or a safe home, and poor people in Canada that can't afford cell phones.
