St Thomas More’s School cancels anti-bullying program after parents raised fears about gay indoctrination

Backlash from a small group of parents has prompted a Mt Eliza primary school to ditch its planned anti-bullying workshops.

A small Catholic primary school has cancelled an anti-bullying program amid fears from some parents about gay indoctrination by anti-bullying advocates.

The program at St Thomas More’s School in Mount Eliza was due to be run by well-regarded anti-bullying providers Project Rockit.

Despite assurances from principal Monique Verhagen, a small group of parents expressed concerns that the company’s values were not in line with the school’s Catholic Christian ethos.

The company has a commitment to “creating spaces where every young person can be welcomed and celebrated, including those of diverse gender identities and sexualities” on their website, but its anti-bullying workshops do not directly provide education on gender and sexuality diversity.

The anti-bullying program is not going ahead after a parent protest. Picture: iStock

Ms Verhagen showed parents the agenda for the workshop, but this did not allay their fears.

One parent told the Herald Sun that he and others “didn’t feel that it matched the ethos and compatibility of their Catholic faith”.

“It’s about the rhetoric, how the material would be delivered. We wanted the school to choose someone who was not politically biased who would deliver the material reflecting a Christian perspective,” he said.

“The ideology of this company is different to our ideology. Parents have been sharing their concerns in the WhatsApp group, but there have been repercussions as a result. Where’s the freedom of speech?”

He said the issue had caused division among parents at the tight-knit school, with one parent pulling out of the parents and friends’ committee as a result.

Two of the families involved left other private schools because they did not feel the culture aligned with their religious values.

A letter to the school community sent by Ms Verhagen states that the anti-bullying workshops are “unfortunately” not going ahead as scheduled.

“Project Rockit is an organisation dedicated to the prevention of bullying for all young

people. It is built on the mission of empowering young people to challenge bullying,

hate, and prejudice. Their programs focus firmly on positivity, leadership, and are

tailored to suit different school communities,” she wrote.

The presentations planned for our students were customised to align with our Catholic

ethos and values and focus on the following key, anti-bullying messages,” the letter said.

These include bystander action, kindness, respect, inclusion and empowerment.

“We will continue to offer curriculum options that educate our students about these

Matters,” Ms Verhagen wrote.

Lucy Thomas, CEO of Project Rockit, said her company’s programs “ are all about creating safe and respectful school environments where every student feels valued, regardless of their background, beliefs, or identity”.

“Our workshops foster strengths-based, student-led conversations that equip young people with the skills to challenge (cyber) bullying, support their peers, seek help when needed, and navigate online spaces in a positive way,” she said.

Originally published as St Thomas More’s School cancels anti-bullying program after parents raised fears about gay indoctrination