Andrew Bolt: Teachers’ action on Palestine a lesson in bullying

Victorian teachers flouncing around the classroom in the keffiyeh may think they’re mighty warriors for the Palestinian cause but many would view this abuse of power as bullying.

Let me tell these teachers wearing Palestinian keffiyehs in class something most students and their parents don’t dare.

You might think you’re mighty warriors for the Palestinian cause in your “week of action”.

But many children in your class – and their seething parents at home – would think you’re bullies. And pathetic.

If they tell you it’s because you’ve taken these poor children hostage. You’re the big adult in the class, and which child would dare argue back? Few parent would also dare complain, knowing these arrogant poseurs could make their child’s school days miserable.

But how ironic and telling. The Palestinian terrorists who’d cheer these public-service radicals have Jewish children hostage, too.

I know the frustration of these parents. How often I’ve had to bite my own tongue on hearing of some school lecture on global warming.

But this is infinitely worse, when you think of the Jewish students in these classes.

Last month Palestinian terrorists slaughtered 1200 Israelis in scenes of utter depravity. Jewish women were raped, men were beheaded and babies shot. About another 240 were taken hostage, including a 10-month-old baby who is still captive in some tunnel in Gaza.

Teachers should stick to the job they’re paid to do and not preach juvenile radical-chic politics. Picture: Instagram

Yet members of the Australian Education Union’s Victoria Branch inner city and Maribyrnong regions have urged teachers to flounce around in class wearing the keffiyah, and even invite a Palestinian activist to lecture the children.

The madness has spread beyond inner Melbourne, Australia’s woke central. The NSW Teachers Federation has likewise urged teachers to wear the keffiyeh in class and flaunt signs calling on Israel to stop fighting back.

What an abuse of power, and one I doubt these teachers would get away with if the people in front of them were adults, not awed children.

I say that because actors of the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Chekhov’s The Seagull tried this same stunt in their curtain-call on Saturday, wearing keffiyehs, with not one Jewish kippah between them.

They got what they deserved for preaching their juvenile radical-chic politics rather than sticking to the job they’re paid to do. The STC criticised them, a board member quit in protest and hundreds of patrons have bombarded the company with complaints.

But what can the students do? That’s what makes their teachers’ politicking so disgusting, and an insight into the kind of bullies who think it right.

Originally published as Andrew Bolt: Teachers’ action on Palestine a lesson in bullying