IT is not easy being a teenager these days. Often portrayed as being too lazy to care, when they do take action on a cause close to their hearts they are criticised for being naive and immature.

That was certainly the reaction from the vast majority of those on social media when students from Hereford Sixth Form College walked out of classrooms last week as part of a national campaign to highlight the dangers of climate change.

The students on Folly Lane spoke eloquently and passionately while asking for the national curriculum to be reformed to “address the ecological crisis as an educational priority”.

The voices of the young often go unheard – particularly at elections where many cannot vote despite working and paying taxes as they are under 18.

Anyone listening to the arguments being made last Friday would surely have come out in favour of electoral reform as the students are clearly far more worldly-aware than many of their critics.

Students have long been at the heart of protests and social movements. Whether it be against apartheid, tuition fees or invasions on sovereign states.

Protestors at last week’s demonstration claimed climate change was the biggest threat to the world today. They said they should not have needed to organise their strike as it should have been done by previous generations.

But there they were, in great numbers, marching through the city centre and making their voices heard. It was a welcome sight – for many reasons.