Hi, I am a student at the Queen's School, and there are times when I feel like our school rules hinder our personal expression. Similar to many other students, I have often kept quiet about my experiences because of the perception that teachers are always right, even when we raise concerns. This is not just my story, but that of many students across the globe. According to UNICEF, "half of students aged 13 to 15 worldwide – around 150 million – report having experienced peer-to-peer violence in and around school" (UNICEF, 2018). The imposition of overly strict and suppressive rules might contribute to such a feeling of oppression. But it's time for change.

Children's voices must be heard; not just because it's the right thing to do, but because we can provide useful insights and solutions to making our learning environment more conducive. The Queen's School can be a pioneer in this change by reevaluating and changing some of its rules to allow more room for student expression. I'm using this platform to make my voice heard and to put out a call to action. Please join me and millions of students worldwide in taking this stand. Sign this petition, let's encourage the Queen's School to change and lead the way toward a more inclusive, expressive and healthy education system.