Fridays Are for the Future

By ASHLEY CHEN, ALEXIA KADOTA-BROWNER and MICHELLE WU

A group of Jericho High School students joined thousands of other youth activists at the New York City Climate Strike.

What started out as an idea by a few Jericho students to host a climate strike at school, quickly became a multi-tiered plan involving several students, some who attended the rally and others who organized efforts at school.  Student leaders from the JerEcho and the Environmental Club, along with climate activists worked with Jericho High School administrators to organize a special morning announcement as well as an email blast to the entire district.

Students were moved to act due to the immediacy of the issue. Environmental Club president and senior Keertti S. said,  “I’ve never looked at climate change from a political view before, and used to focus on what people could do as individuals to reduce their carbon footprint. I think that it’s a lot bigger of an issue than I originally thought. It’s more important now than ever to emphasize being politically involved.”

Jericho High School Administration excused students after some petitioned for excused absences following the lead set by New York City’s Department of Education. Jericho High School co-principal Mr. Cohen said, “We set up a way for students to have their parents contact me so we knew that they had permission from their parents.” Mr. Cohen stressed that the priority was student safety and family involvement. With parental consent assured, he said the District was “able to provide the students with an excused absence.”  

Those who did not attend the New York City rally focused on educating the student body. Junior Quentin B. made a morning announcement to inform students about the importance of the Climate Strike and why they should be aware of their carbon footprint. “We need to educate people on the effects of climate change, then focus on empowering them to reduce their carbon footprint,” he said.

Senior Andrew K. attended the Climate Strike because he felt strongly about the need to advocate for environmental change. “As students, it is our future that is being impacted by the decisions made by Congress. It is imperative for us and our future generations to preserve our world to the best of our abilities. By going on this march, I was part of something bigger that goes beyond my own needs as an individual,” he said.

Senior Jennifer L. also went to the strike and said, “The climate strike was transformative. Experiencing the unity of protesting such a pressing issue along with so many others was more powerful than I could have ever expected it to be.” 

The strike began in Foley Square, and protesters marched down to a center stage located in Battery Park. Celebrity siblings Jaden and Willow Smith captivated the crowd with songs such as “Summertime in Paris” and “Icon,” before Swedish teen environmentalist Greta Thunberg took the stage for her speech. Senior Keertti S. was inspired by Thunberg’s words. “When Greta opened up her speech by reading off the numbers of participants in strikes around the globe, I was moved,” she said.

As people around the world continue to do their part, the Jericho activists hope to spread their message and lead the Jericho community to become more environmentally friendly. Quentin B. said, “We are working with the administration on creating a detailed long-term plan that establishes a timeline with specific steps to reduce Jericho’s carbon footprint. The end goal is for Jericho to become carbon neutral.”

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•