The
'Rocket Talk' conference showed that young people can make
their views about school heard. If you and your peers have
ideas about how your school could be improved, you can use
the power of positive peer pressure to change things. You
can do this by:
working
together
being
positive
being
persistent
Young
people from the S2 conference found that the media can offer
a useful and exciting way to get a message across to a wide
audience. The conference was covered by BBC Scotland, while
the Parliamentary presentation was covered by The Parliamentary
Press Office, 'The Herald' newspaper and 'The Evening Times'
newspaper. The press activity and interviews also gave pupils
a glimpse into what really goes on behind the camera.
For
many pupils it was probably the first time they'd been inside
the Scottish Parliament buildings, let alone addressed a Parliamentary
Committee! Nevertheless, the pupils calmly delivered the key
messages from the Rocket Talk conference to members of the
Education, Culture and Sport Committee. This
was a unique opportunity for pupils to tell the people who
influence and create educational policies, what they like
and don't like about schools today and also to suggest ways
in which things could be improved. The pupils themselves had
decided how they would get their points across - some using
role-play and others directly talking to the MSPs about the
issues. The presentation was followed by an interesting question
and answer session, when members of the Committee asked pupils
about the issues they'd raised. It was hard not to be impressed
by the sincerity and enthusiasm of all the pupils involved.
.
Respect
was the key message that came across when we met with
S2 pupils. Mutual respect is crucial if school life is
to be enjoyable and meaningful and the role-plays spoke
loud and clear to us.
Environment
plays a big part in how we learn. It could be the need
for a whole new school or maybe the provision of lockers
or year rooms would help. Whatever the case, its clear
that S2 pupils have views and want to be consulted.
Support
from peers, parents and staff makes school life better.
Bullying is still very real and support is still patchy
so we need to make improvements.
Peer
pressure is an issue we all face in different ways. It
was good to hear how it affected S2 pupils.
Education
is more than just what takes place in the classroom. The
presentation showed us just how true that was and it helped
us to understand the issues S2 pupils face.
Curriculum
choices put S2 pupils under real pressure. The drama presentation
gave a great insight into the issues and was very well
done.
Thanks
to all who made their views known. As MSPs, we take your
views seriously and hope that we can move forward together.
Young
people from the S2 conference found that the media can offer
a useful and exciting way to get a message across to a wide
audience. The conference was covered by BBC Scotland, while
the Parliamentary presentation was covered by The Parliamentary
Press Office, 'The Herald' newspaper and 'The Evening Times'
newspaper. The press activity and interviews also gave pupils
a glimpse into what really goes on behind the camera. 
For
many pupils it was probably the first time they'd been inside
the Scottish Parliament buildings, let alone addressed a Parliamentary
Committee! Nevertheless, the pupils calmly delivered the key
messages from the Rocket Talk conference to members of the
Education, Culture and Sport Committee. 
This
was a unique opportunity for pupils to tell the people who
influence and create educational policies, what they like
and don't like about schools today and also to suggest ways
in which things could be improved. The pupils themselves had
decided how they would get their points across - some using
role-play and others directly talking to the MSPs about the
issues. The presentation was followed by an interesting question
and answer session, when members of the Committee asked pupils
about the issues they'd raised. It was hard not to be impressed
by the sincerity and enthusiasm of all the pupils involved.
