However, many of the students now claim that school authorities are censoring their speeches, and telling them that they will not be allowed to include the text, as the topic is considered “too controversial”.

Emily Shal, 18, is the class president at Whittier Tech high school in Haverhill, Massachusetts. She had previously read the text as part of a speech at a talent show, and was going to do the same at her graduation ceremony. However, after receiving negative feedback from school authorities, who said she was ‘rebellious’, Shal decided against it.

“The administration were very mad, they were pissed,” she said to the Guardian.

“Everyone was telling me I was in trouble, they now consider me rogue and rebellious. I was really worried about repercussions.”

US students accuse school authorities of silencing them on climate change