Pupils ‘banned’ from clapping in favour of silent cheering

Parents have come out in support of a school ‘ban’ on clapping and cheering in assembly because one of the teacher’s has an acute sensitivity to loud noise.

Pupils at Elanora Heights Public.

• Northern beaches hot spot for meat allergies spread by ticks
• Video of great white shark in Manly — true or fake?

A  NORTHERN beaches school has defended a “ban” on pupils clapping or cheering at assemblies, in favour of silent cheering and excited faces.

Elanora Heights Public School found its clapping policy a matter of national debate, when details of a newsletter made its way into the media.

The newsletter stated: “Instead of clapping, the students are free to punch the air, pull excited faces and wriggle about on the spot.

“The practice has been adopted to respect members of our school community who are sensitive to noise.

“When you attend an ­assembly, teachers will prompt the audience to conduct a silent cheer if it is needed.”

A screen grab of the newsletter.

While TV and radio media roundly dismissed the move as politically correct, it was revealed yesterday that the decision was made to “minimise discomfort to a teacher with a hearing disability that causes acute sensitivity to loud noise”.

Many parents also voiced their support for the “caring” school on social media.

And one Elanora Heights Public mother of two told the Manly Daily she supported the policy because many children at the school with special needs found it hard to tolerate loud noise.

“They are stuck in that tiny hall, which isn’t big enough for all of our students, and there are no windows and it’s stuffy and the sound is amplified. It’s enough to drive anyone crazy,” said the mum, who did not want to be named.

She said she had been in the hall recently and seen the silent cheer for herself, which she pointed out had been in place for a year.

“It was lovely,” she said. “We were having an ­assembly for our school principal, and then everyone went outside to see him off and there was plenty of clapping. This whole idea that the school has banned clapping is a huge beat up.

“I think it’s a great initiative and it’s a shame that people can’t focus on relevant issues like how this school goes above and ­beyond to support its students, staff and parents.”

Another mum said the teacher with the hearing disability was much-loved.

A spokesman for the ­Department of Education yesterday released a statement saying students are only asked not to clap or cheer at assemblies, held once every few weeks.

But they are allowed to clap and cheer on other ­occasions. The spokesman said the school’s Parents and Citizens group was consulted and supported this decision.