Youth Voices - Critical Writing Challenge

Iam a secondary teacher in the Canadian and World Studies department at Lisgar Collegiate Institute in downtown Ottawa. I teach for social change within a provincial education system that is broken. Current education policy tends to perceive students as “sponges” that absorb information passively and which is then regurgitated onto standardized tests. It is in this context that schools are increasingly emphasizing mathematics, the “hard” sciences and technology, while relegating the social sciences, arts and humanities to the margins. Instead of learning how to think for themselves, develop convictions and stand up for their beliefs, students are learning how to pass tests and conform to authority. This is troubling because it upholds the institutionalized status quo, in the process reinforcing the belief that the current political-economic system is somehow “natural” and therefore unchangeable. From the perspective of an educator committed to social transformation, this approach is flawed since it presumes that social change occurs by good citizens working within current institutions and systems. Provincial curriculums reflect this view by defining citizenship in terms of personal values and character building. Social justice and sustainability are attainable if each person adopts virtuous character traits, such as empathy, altruism and personal responsibility. From this perspective, the world will get better if we all donate to charities, volunteer, and vote at elections – hence, become good citizens in the liberal sense of the term. The good news is that there is a different approach, and that is teaching for social change. A concrete example will help distinguish

both approaches. The focus on personal responsibility addresses environmental problems through “green” values and individual lifestyle changes, such as using CFL light bulbs, conserving water, and reducing, reusing and recycling. The presupposition is that sustainability is foremost a matter of changing everyday personal habits. The problem, however, is that emphasizing individual “green” behaviours deflects attention from the socioeconomic and political dimensions of ecological problems. In contrast, an approach that teaches for social change stresses that the root causes of environmental problems are structural in origin, in other words, traceable to an economic system, consumer culture, class differentials, systemic power relations, and so on, that intersect to produce environmental problems. From this perspective, solving environmental issues requires that citizens transform the dominant power structures that systematically uphold and perpetuate these problems. I teach for social change. The academic buzzword for what I do is critical pedagogy – in short, the goal of education is not to learn about the world, but rather to change it. I believe in the power of education, but only when it is done correctly. Foremost, students should develop the critical thinking skills needed to question authority and challenge the status quo, identify the root causes of societal problems, and collectively solve problems in the goal of creating a more just, equitable and sustainable society. In my experience, once students begin asking critical questions they become increasingly politicized. For example, who makes policy decisions and who is excluded? Who benefits and who suffers disproportionate burdens? Are given practices, policies, and decisions fair? Are there better alternatives? What is our responsibility and what can we do? Posing these questions is a political act insofar that students learn about real world problems and their root causes and, most importantly, imagine pragmatic ways of dealing with them. My pedagogical methods have evolved since entering the teaching profession. Instead of perceiving myself as a bearer of knowledge who lectures, I now perceive my role as one of facilitator, which is to say that my academic background provides a reference point for students to develop their own knowledge and understanding, think critically about multiple perspectives, make connections between various issues, and engage with the subject matter in ways that make sense to them. And instead of in-class tests, I provide students with a choice of open-ended assignments that foster critical thinking on a variety of topics.

I assigned the PGEP question on political resistance to my Grade 10 History and Grade 12 Politics classes since it is part of the growing base of pedagogical resources available for teaching social change. I believe firmly that it is political resistance that drives social change as exemplified in the accomplishments of social movements, past and present. Yet, political resistance is not always synonymous with social activism and civil disobedience, such as the Friday’s for Future school climate strikes. Public acts are important but they are only the tip of the iceberg as there are multiple ways to engage in political resistance, with many being invisible. Creating music and art, for example, or sending emails to a city councilor are both acts of political resistance insofar as they concern a social issue, just like affirming and celebrating the identities of marginalized groups can help create inclusive and safe spaces at school and the community at large. The point is that wherever there is power, resistance is possible, and therefore all realms of daily life are important sites of political struggle. It is this realization that fuels my fire to continue teaching in the current neoliberal context. There are cracks in the foundation of the education system, and therein lies the soil from which the rhizome of social change will sprout.

By Rayan Ahmed

Hey, my name’s Rayan Ahmed. I’m in the 12th grade at Lisgar Collegiate Institute. I’ve lived in the downtown Ottawa area my whole life.

At the time that I am writing this, trucks from all over Canada assemble in the center of Ottawa. They are calling themselves peaceful protesters, but their Nazi and Confederate flags suggest otherwise. These trucks have forced the citizens of Ottawa who either work or live downtown to be vocal and to share their horrible experience in efforts to cope with the turmoil brought upon their neighborhoods by the truckers. Despite their obvious lack of concern for their impact on Canadian lives, what they are doing qualifies as political resistance. This all begs the question, what exactly are these truckers protesting? The answer here lies in the new COVID-19 mandates. These truckers have no doubt faced difficult times over the last two years, difficulties shared by the rest of Canada due to the pandemic. Does this give them the right to act and have their voice heard? Yes. Does this give them the right to go do whatever they want? No, not at all. To me, political resistance is justifiable until the lives of citizens begin to be affected negatively. But what exactly is political resistance? Well, political resistance can take many different forms. A constant among all types of political resistance; the fact that it must be carried out by a group with enough volume to threaten civil order. Never has an act of political resistance (to my knowledge) had success in being carried out by only one person. Political resistance includes both peaceful and violent demonstrations against the government and/or administrative personnel ruling over society. This often includes those who resist tyranny or dictatorship. In responding to extreme levels of oppression, we can see political resistance take radical forms as well, despite my belief that violent movements are unjustifiable and morally reprehensible. There also exist examples of political resistance in which underground libertarian organizations engage in conflict for national liberation in some totalitarian countries. Personally, the only form of political resistance that I recall participating in is peaceful/non-violent protesting. As recently as this school year, I participated in two different peaceful protests. Both movements were in protest of the ongoing injustices on Ethiopian soil, and the heavily biased news sources reporting on this globally. In both protests we, the Ethiopian people of Canada, drove our cars, waved our flags, and marched through downtown Ottawa for hours to draw the attention of those in power. To be transparent, I found the two experiences rewarding, and would be happy to do it again; being there with my friends made it even better. Further, I felt connected to my culture on a deeper level, whether it was the abundance of people who look just like me all around or the Ethiopian music that played through our speakers as we marched through town. One thing is for certain – I haven’t had many other experiences in my life that have filled me with the same amount of pride for who I am and where I come from. Political resistance need not be as instantaneous as the examples I mentioned previ-

ously. Certain forms of political resistance can be long and slow journeys made by people every day by simply going about their lives. A specific person that comes to mind is a man by the name of Gerald Dragon. For the last 10 years Gerald has been a youth worker in the Sandy Hill community of Ottawa, the community in which I grew up. It has been 10 years since I met Gerald, and he has been nothing less than a role model since. He lives his life trying to improve the quality of life of underprivileged youth around him. He does so by providing food for the community, and by organizing meaningful and rewarding activities and programs for youth. His work is truly inspiring. Just by doing what he continues doing day by day, he is slowly combating the effects of systemic racism by means of drawing underprivileged youth from less fortunate situations, and gives them something to look forward to. Gerald, and many others like him, are doing their part to resist socioeconomic and political injustices in our society, one step at a time.

Women’s Day By Liza Mavrinskaya

“Here’s to strong women: May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” ~ Unknown

“There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise.” ~ W.E.B. Dubois

“Feminism isn’t about making women strong. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.” ~ G.D. Anderson Liza Mavrinskaya is a grade 10 student at Lisgar Collegiate Institute in Ottawa, Ontario. She enjoys creative writing, playing cello and piano, and learning languages. She is really passionate about women’s rights, and hopes to actively participate in building a more just and equal society.

Every year on March 8th, people all over the world celebrate International Women’s Day, one of the celebrations I appreciate the most, because for me, it is a symbol of political resistance of women. It is the celebration of the accomplishments of the feminist movement – to remember the battle, the sacrifices and the hard work of generations of women, but also to remember that it is not over yet and there is still a lot of work left to do. For centuries, women were neglected, dependent on men, considered incapable of making their own decisions, and both physically and mentally weak. In short, they were not people. The constant oppression initiated women to become more active and to campaign for change. They wanted to be heard, so they went on the streets and protested, demanding the right

to vote, a shorter work day and better salaries. The development of this long-standing movement for women to participate equally in society in North America and across Europe led to the idea of an International Women’s Day. In March 1911 the first International Women’s Day was celebrated in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland, when more than one million people, both men and women, showed their support by participating in various public demonstrations. Since those early years, International Women’s Day has grown to become a global day of celebration where women are recognized for their achievements, and in 1977, the United Nations designated March 8th as International Women’s Day; a global day to recognize the achievements of women, to put pressure on their demands and resist to the politics of a sexist society. Every year, Canada choses a new theme for International Women’s Day. The 2016 theme is one of my favourites: “Women’s Empowerment Leads to Equality.” For me, empowerment means having the tools to make better choices, being better equipped to fulfill one’s potential and to contribute to society. It includes several components, such as knowing one’s democratic rights, having access to education and becoming financially independent. Women and girls play an essential role in politics, in the business world and at home. Nevertheless, they often confront legal, cultural and social obstacles that prevent them from attaining their full potential and contribute fully to their communities. When they have the resources and opportunities to be successful, it enriches the whole society. Empowered women make choices that meet their own needs and those of their families, and when this happens, the world becomes a much better place – not only for women, but for everyone. We are all stronger when women and girls are empowered! In 2021, the United Nations chose the theme “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World” for International Women’s Day. I think this was an excellent choice, because the pandemic risks eradicating 25 years of progress and movement, made by women. Femicide and sexual abuse are particularly worrying subjects – rates increased significantly since the start of the pandemic. Women

are also performing a lot more domestic work, which has impacted their education and work opportunities. That is why political resistance is particularly important now. In my opinion, International Women’s Day is a perfect opportunity to celebrate, reflect and take action. Political resistance plays a crucial role in the movement, so if we resist the governments and the racist society, little by little, things will start to change. We will not attain complete equality now, nor in ten years; however, what we do today will have a big impact on the results our children will see. In conclusion, despite the successes of women’s political resistance over the years, much remains to be done. Women are still more exposed to verbal and physical harassment and sexual abuse, receive less promotions and smaller salaries; they are less likely to have access to health care and food, especially those in impoverished communities. Therefore, I want to emphasize the importance of International Women’s Day, and raise awareness about this day. Every year on March 8th we remember the accomplishments of women, and renew our engagements to create a world that is more positive, fair and equal. It is the day on which we – as girls – must remember that we can make a difference and change our world. I can go to school. I can choose my postsecondary education. I can do any job I want. I can become a doctor, or a prime minister, or a scientist. When I am eighteen, I shall exercise my duty and right to vote. Thank you to all Canadian women who have fought for this. I acknowledge that not everyone has these opportunities and I will fight for the rights of people around the world. Let us celebrate International Women’s Day every year! Let us remember and appreciate everything women have accomplished and all that they are continually striving to achieve to make our world a much better and brighter place. And let us not forget that there is still a lot of work we can do.

My name is Harvard Matt and I am currently a grade 12 student at Lisgar Collegiate Institute in Ottawa, Ontario. I will be graduating as part of the class of 2022 and will likely be coming to Queen’s next year as a Political Science major!

Political resistance is a very interesting idea. There is a fairly accepted and accurate definition: resistance is a type of collective civil disobedience. It involves physical presence and solidarity; it appeals to moral law or human rights; it’s usually illegal, but nonviolent; it’s locally based in a community; its activists are angry citizens and lower-level officials (Walzer, 2017). Really, it’s the idea of a group of citizens marching together in some type of protest against the government, or government statues that are caused by a problem. Personally, I want to question the validity of this definition. To have real resistance, the government must face real problems. I think this is the difference between performative action and real action. I’ll give you an example: The citizen group was the Ontario high school students who wanted to strike over global warming. On September 20, 2019, many of the OCDSB students left school to march in front of Parliament. This is the definition of political resistance. But, there are key details that I did not include in my description of the event. The teachers supported the decision to strike. The school encouraged the strike. The email account that belonged to the schools sent a message to the students encouraging the strike. The same schools that are controlled by the government that the students were protesting against. Nothing to change in the government, nothing to change in the school and all things went back to normal. With the new details, is this really a social movement? Was the government forced to change to comply with the students’ demands? In my opinion, the answer is no. But why didn’t it work? It was literally the definition of political resistance, but nothing to change. This is not real resistance. So, did I see a real example of political change? To be completely honest, I don’t think I saw a real demonstration of political resistance in Ottawa. It’s hard to say I’ve seen a real example of political resistance in my life, but I think the closest example would be the Black Lives Matter marches in 2020. I wouldn’t entirely say it’s a perfect example of political resistance, but I’ll explain that a bit later. The BLM marches were very interesting to me, not least because it was a fairly global movement, reaching every part of North America and many other parts of the world. Also, there are real victories that are won by the movement. Derek Chauvin’s conviction was one of these big victories. But I don’t think this represents a real change. It’s resistance, and I’m convinced that the government has been under very real pressure, but they have escaped without truly changing much. As the world saw, there was pressure placed upon them, and the government escaped by working to do as little as possible. Chauvin was the scapegoat for the government and the majority of people who supported the BLM movement simply stopped thinking about it. This is my central problem with saying that this is real political change. It was the closest I’ve seen in my life, but nothing has changed in Canada. It’s real pressure on the government, but hasn’t resulted in big changes. My real conclusion after writing this essay is that political resistance in Ottawa, or in the parts of Canada controlled mostly by white people is not really a thing. That is not to say that it is impossible, because you can see people committed to trying to make changes. There’s a shipment of people coming in cars from Vancouver to try to fight against mandated vaccinations for international truck drivers (Dubinski, 2022). We’ll see what happens with this protest, but I could say with real confidence that the government will probably wait a couple of days, then they’ll do a little message in support of the protesters, slightly change the regulations, and then the trucks will leave, and return to business as usual. It’s hard to make real political change in Canada, but I don’t think it’s impossible, it’s just that the population hasn’t found something unanimous enough to gain the support of at least five percent of the population. I’m looking for the day when we’ll see real change, but at this point in my life, I have nothing that I can say is real political resistance.

My name is Brynn Kilger. I was born in Ottawa and currently am a grade 10 student at Lisgar Collegiate Institute. In my spare time I enjoy being active and playing sports such as hockey and ultimate frisbee.

By Brynn Kilger

Political resistance has a different significance for each of us, there being varying definitions. In observing the evolution of politics over the last decades, we can see the impact and the importance that environmental political resistance has had in Canada. What does environmental political resistance look like? To me, this looks like resisting change or governmental ignorance regarding social and economic problems. There exists many different forms of and approaches to resistance, some more efficient than others. Blockades are frequently used for environmental resistance movements; they are introduced to interrupt the everyday life of citizens and governments to highlight the problem the group looks to rectify. An example of recent is one in which the members of the Wet’suwet’en Nation protested the construction of a pipeline through their land. There was fear instilled that this new pipeline would pose concern by means of polluting their fresh water source and environment. The group utilized their mass to make blockades and to prohibit passage and progression of construction. Another form of political resistance is mass demonstration, or rallies. I believe this form of political resistance is most useful for me as a student, because these demonstrations take place throughout my school day. This way, there is a greater chance I could encourage my friends to participate, and my teachers would notice my absence, therefore drawing immediate attention. When gathering, it is very hard to ignore the demands of the protesters, and it is very easy to attract the attention of citizens or government officials using the presence of important figures such as Greta Thunberg. On September 27th, 2019, Thunberg appeared at a rally in Montreal, and the event became the largest demonstration in the history of Quebec with 500,000 people in attendance. Tactics used in political resistance help initiate significant change for many issues, especially movements concerning the environment. Three large movements that helped the political advancement of environmental conservation include the creation of the World Wildlife Fund in 1961. This was a huge advancement in showing just how seriously we are taking the ongoing climate crisis. This organization works to promote the conservation of habitat, biodiversity, and ecological development, as well as scientific research. A second advancement took place on April 22nd, 1970, more widely known as Earth Day. This day was created with the intention of being a “teachin” for only a few universities, but has since attracted the attention of millions, internationally. In my opinion, this day can be credited for igniting several

other environmental resistance movements. This third and final movement for the advancement of environmental protection took place at a governmental level. In 1989, the Green Party of Canada was founded by Trevor Hancock, and the party works to demonstrate that there would always be a group at the political level focusing on health and environmental protection. I believe that we must appreciate political resistance, because it is to this act that we owe thanks that our world has progressed. Without resistance our world would be very different, and not necessarily in a good way. Women, members of the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, the environment, and others would all be ignored and fail to receive the rights and platforms they deserve. Today, change begins with, and counts on young people to act and to stand up for what they believe in.

By Elle Abray-Nyman

My name is Elle Abray-Nyman, I am 15 years old and I’m a grade 10 student at Lisgar Collegiate Institute. I am deeply interested in the development of the world in all aspects and the ways in which we can improve as a society. I believe that young people have more power and strength that others often overlook and I aspire to be a part of the change happening around the world in the ways that I can.

In my opinion, political resistance resembles human strength, and thanks to that, personal, social, and governmental progress. Without political resistance, none of the progress that has taken place in society could have happened. Without those who were, and are, strong enough to stand up and fight for what is right, everything would be the same as it was 100 or even 1000 years ago. No matter what form it took, political resistance is the reason we are where we are today. Whether it’s strikes, sit-ins, walkouts, social media posts, or petitions, political resistance is about helping to make the world a better place for everyone, not just those who are most powerful. All of this is relevant in the case of the LGBTQ+ community and their ongoing struggle for visibility, rights and equality. Every year, there is a Pride Parade during Pride Month: a time to celebrate the social and personal acceptance, rights, accomplishments and pride of the LGBTQ+ community. It is an opportunity for LGBTQ+ people to feel comfortable, whether they are new to the community or not. Regardless of wheth-

er some people don’t like it, or think it’s wrong, the LGTBQ+ community can show that being part of this community is something to celebrate, not hide. I went to the Pride Parade in 2016 when I didn’t know I was bisexual yet. I think now that having the chance to see such a strong community has helped me become comfortable with my sexuality. These parades exist for exactly that reason: to show people that they can be safe and loved just the way they are, no matter what people say. Additionally, during Pride Month the community has the opportunity to share their stories and experiences to those who can learn from them; it is a time to reflect on LGBTQ+ history, and their efforts for rights and equality. However, political resistance is not only about protests and marches. It can also happen in art, specifically, music. Music is a perfect medium for resistance and education (especially in the 1970s) because everyone had access to it in one way or another. In the 70s, not everyone was lucky enough to have a television, or let alone a house, so the only other ways to keep up with the world was through radio, newspapers, or music. At that time, homosexuality had just been decriminalized, but many people in the LGBTQ+ community still felt obligated, or wanted to keep their identities hidden, and it was very lonely and confusing. So who was going to help these people feel safe? Not the government or the newspaper owners, but the musicians who were in the same position as those who were in trouble. Artists like Elton John, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, George Michael, and many others were inspirations who helped many people feel comfortable with their identities. Even though the government said that gay people could not express love in public or “promote” homosexuality, these musicians resisted; they did it anyway, and did good for this community along the way. Today, music is still a big resource for people of all ages in the LGBTQ+ community to find their identity, and to feel heard and comfortable with themselves. Music has not only helped individuals, but has also helped associations and groups at large. An album was made in 1990 called Red Hot & Blue which featured contemporary pop musicians performing music by Cole Porter. All the money raised from the album went to varying pioneering AIDS organizations, which placed pressure on the government and pharmaceutical companies to release the drugs that allow people today to live with HIV, and move toward its destigmatization. Finally, social media is a very important medium for political resistance in the young LGBTQ+ community. Many people in Generation Z have, and continue to grow up in homophobic or non-supportive environments, which leads to poor education, ignorance, and even more homophobia. Schools also do not teach enough about the history of sex and health education of LGBTQ+ people. Such situations are dangerous for members of the LGBTQ+ community to grow up as themselves and function safely thereafter. Poor education or lack of education about LGBTQ+ issues in society and our smaller communities can lead to LGBTQ+ teens feeling isolated, confused, and engaging in dangerous behaviors. In these cases and many others, secure social media is a very useful way for young people to learn about the community and develop a better understanding. But, social media can do the opposite and be another source of misinformation. These platforms can plant inaccurate information in young teens’ heads, which can lead to identity crises or the spread of unnecessary information. But finding the right resources on the right platforms can be a huge tool. Some helpful Instagram accounts are @feminist, @lgbt_history, and @lgbt. There are also many role models on all sorts of social media that set a good example for youth in the LGBTQ+ community and share their personal experiences. Some examples are @lavernecox, @alokvmenon. @repdavids, @jvn, @kearagraves and @theebillyporter. In conclusion, there are countless ways in which political resistance emerges. Each has its own benefits and dangers, but each is a step in the direction of social justice. Political resistance shows strength, determination, and change that has been made and can still be made possible in society. Even without the purpose of resistance, these media are extremely useful every day to thousands and even millions of people, and that’s what really matters in the end.