A group of ADSS students put together an art show last week to raise awareness for mental health.
Members of the Social Justice 12 class, made up of students in grades 11 and 12, arranged the show as part of their culminating project.
“We figured there’s always room for art in mental health,” said student Ruby Hunt. “It’s a popular subject in artwork.”
“This way it’s more visual than just an essay,” added student Lauren Baader. “People have different opinions about the art.”
Entrance to the show was by donation, with all proceeds going to the New Horizons Clubhouse.
Students asked local artists in the community to donate their artwork. Most of the subjects centred around mental illness.
One part of the show was a booth set up by students who are lobbying to get proper sex education introduced in the high school’s curriculum.
“We’ve been trying for one and a half years,” said student Julia Field-Lowen. “Our main goal is to teach, not to discourage them from having it.”
Field-Lowen cited teen pregnancy numbers in Port Alberni, and suggested it might be linked to the current sex education curriculum.
Instructor Anne Ostwald said a group of Social Studies 10 students went to the legislature and met with ministry staff to discuss this. “They came to Social Justice to continue this project,” she said.
The students will be writing a letter to the school board asking for a pilot project to be introduced in the school.
Ostwald was impressed with the students’ interest and enthusiasm in social justice over the semester, which ended on Friday. “So much research went into this project, but some of it didn’t make the final cut,” she said.
“As long as the kids are happy and they’ve learned something,” she said.
“It’s about the process.”
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