Caulfield Grammar urges students to avoid School Strike for Palestine rally on Thursday

A leading Melbourne private school has told students to avoid the School Strike for Palestine rally in the city on Thursday as Jacinta Allan is pressured to take a stronger stance.

Caulfield Grammar voiced their concerns for the planned rally this week. Picture: David Crosling

A leading private school has urged students not to attend Thursday’s School Strike for Palestine rally.

In a letter to parents, Caulfield Grammar, which has campuses in St Kilda East, Glen Iris and Wheelers Hill, said the school did not support the event or its students attending.

“Schools do not have controls to keep students safe at events such as this,” the school said.

“In recent weeks similar activities have become violent and people have been injured.”

Caulfield Grammar said the school believed attendance at the rally would not lead to a greater understanding of the “deeply complex” and “tragic” set of circumstances unfolding in the Middle East.

“On the contrary, we believe that this rally will likely lead to further misunderstanding and proliferation of resentment and antisemitic sentiment,” it said.

“We are therefore expecting students to be at school throughout this event and any others like it.

“This will be reflected in our attendance procedures, and we ask our parent community to support our position.”

Caulfield Grammar urged students not to attend the pro-Palestine rally on Thursday. Picture: David Crosling

St Michael’s Grammar School in St Kilda also urged students not to attend Thursday’s rally.

“We write to advise that our school will operate to our usual schedule on November 23 with students expected to attend all classes and exams as usual,” the school said in a letter to parents.

“The Victorian Premier, the Victorian Education Minister, and the Federal Education Minister have all made public comments in which they have said students are expected to be at school during school hours.

“Independent Schools Victoria also endorses these comments.

“We understand that many in our school community are affected by the devastating events in the Middle East, and the subsequent discord in the broader community which has caused harm and distress,” the school added.

Thousands of parents, students and educators predominantly from the Jewish community signed an open letter urging the state government to take stronger action on the rally this week.

The letter, written by concerned community member Moran, which received 6539 signatures of support, called on Premier Jacinta Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll to take a “clear, forceful stance” against Thursday’s planned rally.

“The rally will only heighten conflict in our broader community and increase fear among our youngest Jewish community members, our children,” Moran said.

The letter said: “The right to demonstrate, while fundamental, is not absolute, and must be weighed against other rights including liberty, safety, security, and tolerance,”

“Is the ‘Free Palestine’ rally truly concerned with hearing the voices of schoolchildren, or is it about the mass exploitation of children to advance their cause?

“What effect will this rally have on Jewish school students, especially in the schoolyard?”

Premier Jacinta Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll said it was their firm expectation for every student to be at school on Thursday.

“The best place to learn, the best place to understand, the best place to strive for a more peaceful community is by being in school, learning from history and getting the tools and skills to be part of a better future,” Ms Allan said.

“In the context of Thursday, it is the expectation that it’s a school day. If you’re meant to be at school, then that’s where you should be.”

Ms Allan said the Education Department on Tuesday provided additional support and resources to Victorian schools.

“It does reflect that schools are not immune from the concern and distress that many of us are experiencing as a consequence of the conflict in the Middle East,” she said.

The letter also added the community was also “extremely troubled” about the way children were being used by the anti-Israel and anti-Zionist movement through their sloganisation of complex geopolitical issues.

“Incidents of racial discrimination in Victorian schools are not new, as exemplified in recent federal court litigation by Jewish students at Brighton Secondary College.

“There is an even greater need now for the Victorian Department of Education to sensitively and responsibly handle events that could exacerbate feelings of marginalisation among minority students,” it added.

Palestinian supporters are set to protest in the city again this week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Shadow Minister for Education Jess Wilson also said the best place for students to learn about and engage in complex international issues was in the classroom.

“The state government cannot facilitate nor condone an environment that creates division and conflict within our classrooms,” Ms Wilson said.

“Quite clearly, this is an important issue for the Jewish community. With thousands of signatures, the Premier and Education Minister cannot ignore the impact this is having on the Victorian community.”

Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne said: “Australian school students are seeing kids their own age pulled from the rubble of Gaza. Is it any wonder that they want the government to do something about this horror?”

“Telling kids to stay in the classroom while their political leaders endorse Israel’s massacre of Palestinians is completely out-of-touch with the public mood and ignorant of how informed students are,” Ms Allman-Payne said.

“I urge students to ignore condescending calls from Labor and the Liberals to turn a blind eye to the brutality in Gaza and exercise their right to engage in peaceful protest.”

Victorian Greens education spokesman Aiv Puglielli said: “Every day young people are watching this humanitarian catastrophe unfold on their phones.”

“They are seeing horrific violence committed against Palestinians by the state of Israel as the death toll in Gaza rises above 13,000,” he said.

“They are also seeing their governments refuse to act, and ignore the millions of people around the world calling for peace.”

A state government spokesman said: “Many in our school communities are affected by the devastating events in the Middle East – schools are communicating with parents and carers about the current situation, including providing extra support for any students who need it.”

“Schools also ensure students understand that any form of racism, anti-Semitism or Islamophobia is never tolerated in Victorian schools – now is the time for unity and support for those affected,” the spokesman said.

Education Minister Ben Carroll said: “Education is a cause for good in and of itself and being at school is the best investment students can make in their future.”

Schools will operate to their usual schedule on November 23 and normal attendance expectations apply.

This was communicated to schools last week and a further notice was sent out on Tuesday.