I guess the one thing I would say is that I'm glad I'm not going to have to chaperone, and I have nothing but empathy for the teachers who are going to have that chore.
But having watched students on other occasions on these pilgrimages, they behave very well. They're there for a purpose. They're there to hear history firsthand. I commend the schools and the teachers for putting this initiative forward, and I commend the government for actually putting some meaning to “Lest We Forget”. The way to teach children about the past is to have them be involved in it. I think this is a wonderful experience that they're going to have. It's something they will never forget. I know from having dealt with children for a number of years that when they go back home--we may be bringing up to 5,000, or 5,000 may be coming--they're all going to tell their friends as well. So the numbers will spread, the word will spread, and their appreciation of what kinds of sacrifices were made will also spread.
I commend the government for going in this direction.