“Study war no more, we must begin to study peace” was the message from peace activists Monday morning at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina.
The group hand-delivered a petition containing over 600 signatures to the Ministry of Education calling on the Sask. government to introduce a peace studies program for curriculums from kindergarten to grade 12.
Florence Stratton and her colleagues have been collecting signatures for the last 12 months. She admitted it’s a good feeling to see this day finally come.
“It’s been a lot of fun collecting petition signatures because it’s an opportunity to meet more people and discuss the issue of peace with them,” she said on the steps in front of the legislative building.
Within the document, Stratton mentioned how hey didn’t suggest any particular curriculum since they are not education experts, but she hopes the government seriously considers their request.
The group believes it’s crucial for students to learn the destructiveness of war and how it affects everyone.
“None of the students at our schools has ever known a time of world peace. Their entire lives have been lived in active warfare with Canadian soldiers involved in wars in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and Syria.”
She added how it’s important for youth to learn that money spent on wars could be used to solve issues regarding poverty, homelessness or healthcare.
Signatures were collected from 40 different communities in Saskatchewan. 582 people signed the paper petition while 128 signed online.
