Students and Head of School Take Vow of Silence

Twenty years ago this week, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This charter laid out the civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights for children. The promises it made for protecting children and the hope it represented for their future have not been realized. The youth-oriented charity organization Free the Children, founded by a young Canadian Craig Keilburger, is promoting a Day of Silence to symbolize the millions of children who do not have a voice. Like all oppressed people, their problems are not seen or heard. Their cries for hunger, homes, and healthy, safe lives fall on deaf ears. Nick R, Dan H, and Anna K spoke in Assembly about the less fortunate youth in the world. Canadian children are not excluded. Statistics on Canadian homeless youth and those living under the poverty line are upsetting. They were joined on stage by 60 students willing to take the vow of silence. Our Head of School, Mrs. Andrea Pennells, has also joined the students in their 24 hour vigil. This vow involves complete communication abstinence: no talking, emailing, telephoning, text messaging, or writing. The frustrations will be many but the participants will experience what it is like to be the invisible ones of our society. For more information go to http://www.iamsilent.com/.