He said
Remembrance Day is an important time, giving everyone an opportunity to reflect on those who sacrificed much to keep us safe. The Alberta premier was disappointed to learn that the ceremonies are optional for students, but in a strange way they fought to ensure everyone could refuse to celebrate their sacrifice.
Schools here are closed for Nov. 11, but where I grew up, we received no such holiday. So each year, the elementary school I attended gathered up the students, and we walked to the centre of town, gathering around the cenotaph to take part in the service. In high school, an assembly was held and the service was done there.
There wasn't really much getting out of it, even though it was an obligation and as the punk kid I was, I despised obligations.
The Nov. 11 ceremonies are not mandatory for anybody else, so while I think they are important, students should be going only if they choose. I would have made the choice every year because it would be an hour outside and away from Grade 5 math class.
Students can be respectful and participate in Remembrance Day without attending a wreath-filled service with a half-hearted rendition of God Save the Queen.
I may think Remembrance Day is important, but I definitely will not be attending another service if I am not covering it and again be obligated to be there.
You don't teach someone to appreciate something by shoving it down their throat. Students should learn to respect veterans of our Armed Forces by learning about the sacrifices they make for us.
For those who do, there are more ways to recognize the day than to attend a ceremony. A simple moment of self-reflection is certainly sufficient, even it would be invisible to everyone else.
She said
I knew kids in high school who delighted in skipping every assembly or ceremony they could. In the spirit of honesty, I was one of those students - when it came to talent shows, because they were largely pretty lame (sorry SRC). But Remembrance Day is an exception, because even if it means you need to stand on third balcony for an hour, it's important that students attend.
I don't think it matters if students support wars. Remembrance Day isn't about supporting war and conflict. It's a day dedicated to honouring the people who have served our country in the name of Canadians and of freedom. Certainly all wars don't guarantee freedom, and for some wars, freedom isn't even threatened. But brave men and women risked and/or lost their lives fighting.
I acknowledge that some soldiers are not saints. Canadians have committed crimes and done horrible things in the name of war. But I like to believe that the majority of Canadian soldiers fight with the greater good in mind, and genuinely want to do something good for our country.
So no, students should not be allowed to skip Remembrance Day ceremonies, and those who try to sneak off campus should be punished. In many cases, we owe our freedom to soldiers who gave their lives. I know a man who lost his arm fighting for Canada in the Second World War, and now donates a large portion of his war pension to charities. If there's any human being on the planet who deserves a minute of silent respect, it's that guy.
