 | Thirty-one student leaders from across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) travelled to Queen’s University in Kingston April 25 to see a lecture by federal MP Justin Trudeau about youth empowerment and education. | |
Kingston - May 1, 2012 - Thirty-one student leaders from across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) travelled to Queen’s University in Kingston April 25 to see a lecture by federal MP Justin Trudeau about youth empowerment and education.
The UCDSB students joined other student leaders from surrounding school boards, as well as Queen’s teacher candidates, in the Duncan McArthur Hall Auditorium to hear Trudeau - who holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia - talk about the importance of reminding students of their personal power and impact.
“Today, a teacher’s purpose is to empower students to find the answers for themselves,” he said. “Your job is to teach students how to learn.”
Trudeau talked about how education has changed over the years, due primarily to technology. He said that teachers should now be focused on teaching students how to have confidence, flexibility, and think around corners.
“They have to understand the connections between things, like how A led to B,” he said.
Trudeau said the hierarchical model of success that existed for so long in Western society - the idea that academic success means success as an adult - must be altered.
“The kinds of success we’re looking at now are going to be as diverse as the students themselves are,” he said. “As a teacher, you must demonstrate that these students have power.”
Trudeau also talked about the importance of showing students that they have relevance.
“Every human being in the world has one need - to feel valued in our tribe,” said Trudeau. “Human beings need to feel like they have relevance.
“Money, material, fame and authority used to be symbols of power, but things have changed,” he added. “Now that we have so much access to information, instead of feeling empowered, young people feel overwhelmed.”
Trudeau said many children and teenagers gain a false sense of belonging and purpose through video games and street gangs.
“Video games are increasingly realistic virtual worlds,” he said. “Every decision you make has an impact on shaping this virtual world that you are the centre of.
“But, real life can be just as impactful.”
Trudeau said that young people often get a bad rap for appearing to not care about important issues.
“Young people are not apathetic,” he said. “Apathy comes from caring so much that they get frustrated that they don’t have the tools they need.”
Trudeau said teachers must arm students with life tools in the classroom.
“Don’t you ever tell your students that they are leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “They can’t be leaders of tomorrow if they’re not one today.
“Understanding that our actions matter is something our young people need to know more than just about anything else,” he added. “We have to demonstrate that and empower students.”
Trudeau encouraged students to get involved in community service.
“The idea of serving your community is something that needs to be at the centre of yourself,” he said. “Young people have realized that young people have power. We just need to start to wield it.”
Two Athens District High School students said they found Trudeau’s presentation to be insightful.
“I think he was a very good speaker,” said Adele McCallum. “He was relatable.”
“It seems like he understood more about what we are about more than a lot of people do,” said Jacob Howe, UCDSB student trustee.
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