We were delighted to return to Kilmarnock Academy on Monday for the second of our Political Conversations events. A huge thank you to local MP Lillian Jones and East Ayrshire councillor Sally Cogley who spoke to a packed room of young people studying modern studies, politics and citizenship.
Lillian and Sally spoke at length about how they ended up in politics – both talked about how they had surprised themselves by ending up as elected representatives. Providing examples, they illustrated how it was only by getting elected that they were able to bring about wider social change in the causes they care about. Lillian also talked about the hard choices that a politician must face up to which, as a MP, can involve matters of life and death.
Students asked a series of excellent questions: for example, the politicians were asked about the challenge of signing up to a party agenda even when you might not agree with all of it.
At the end of the event, we presented vouchers to the two winners of our essay competition: Carolina Sharp and Devlyn Ritchie. You can read their excellent blogs on our last event in the school here.
The Centre’s schools programme will see us heading next to John Paul Academy in Glasgow in a couple of weeks, before we also speak to schools in Clydebank in December. Next year we’re aiming to take students to the Scottish Parliament and then host them here at the University of Glasgow for an end of year get-together. The aim is to inspire S5 and S6 students in schools in the west of Scotland to get involved in both political and public life as they prepare to leave their school careers.
Finally, a massive thanks also to Beth Wallace and Fiona Milne, Kilmarnock Academy’s brilliant Modern Studies teachers who welcomed us to the school. We’re looking forward to seeing you all again soon!
