Melbourne Jewish school principal slams teachers’ week of solidarity for Palestine

The principal of Melbourne’s largest Jewish school has slammed calls for teachers to dress up as Palestinians and invite advocates onto campuses.

The principal of Melbourne’s largest Jewish school has slammed a flyer calling on teachers to wear keffiyehs and invite Palestinian advocates to campuses in what he describes as activism that “crosses the line into anti-Semitism”.

Mount Scopus Memorial College principal Rabbi James Kennard said he is fearful for Jewish students in schools where teachers may be planning a week-long action in support of Palestine.

The action, which encourages teachers to wear Palestine shirts and badges and host activists to speak at schools, is endorsed by the inner city and Maribyrnong regions of the Australian Education Union’s Victoria branch.

“This is a matter of great concern for the entire Jewish community, that these campaigns laced with anti-Semitism are becoming so frequent and ubiquitous in Australia today,” he told The Australian.

20/02/2017: Principal Rabbi James Kennard from Mount Scopus Memorial College in Burwood, Melbourne. Stuart McEvoy for the Australian.

“Children should be physically safe and safe from poisonous ideas. And when I see the education union endorsing a plan for teachers to very much bring politics into schools, and inevitably, to affect the minds of young children, then I think we’ve reached some sort of critical turning point.”

Rabbi Kennard said schools were right to educate students about current affairs but were obligated to do so in a nonpartisan way.

“This is proposing to present a very one-sided approach, which on the basis of what we’ve seen from Palestinian activism so far, will consist of lies, distortions, and will cross the line into anti-Semitism,” he said.

He said the real aim of the week of action was to influence young school-aged people.

Students from Sydney walk out of high schools for Palestine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“I think it’s clever that the flyer is directed at teachers, and the union can say we’re not saying that the teachers should pass this on to students, but of course they will,” Rabbi Kennard said.

The flyer advertising the action says that teachers should show their support within schools.

“As teachers, we teach history so that mistakes are not repeated, we teach human rights that are meant to apply to all human beings,” it says

“We have students with family in Gaza, if we can be tough on mobile phones, but silent on genocide as it happens, there is something awry with the moral compass of our schools”.

Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll has condemned the planned action. 

“The government does not support the action that is being put forward by a small subsection of the education union,” he said.

“This action is inflammatory, it’s divisive, and sows more seeds of disharmony in our community.

“We’re calling on all teachers that hold a privileged position to teach the curriculum in the classroom. Not to be inviting strangers or political activists into class.”

Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll speaks during question time at Parliament House in Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The state Education Minister said the Australian Education Union did not endorse the action and that up to 25 teachers from Flemington, Fitzroy, Collingwood and Princes Hill passed the motion.

“Teachers are employed by the Department of Education ... they do have a code of conduct to be unbiased, to teach responsibility, objectively and not bring personal, political agendas into the classroom,” he said.

Mr Caroll said he hoped it won’t have to get the point where teachers are fired over following the instructions listed in the flyer.

“We are hoping we don’t have to get to that but there are a range of actions in terms of reprimand for things like that,” he said.

He said a statement would be sent out to schools to notify them the state government does not support the action.

Teachers 4 Palestine Victoria have shared instructions on how teachers can talk to their colleagues about Palestine. Picture: Instagram / teachers4palestine_vic

Teachers 4 Palestine Victoria, the organisers of the event, hit out at Mr Carroll over his comments and said it was him who was being inflammatory and divisive.

“In March this year Minister Carroll travelled to Israel to promote ‘defence’ links between Israel and the state of Victoria. Minister Carroll met with Elbit Systems who describes their weapons systems as ‘battle proven’,” the group said.

“Schools are places where opened and informed discussion must be welcome.”

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dr Dvir Abramovich called the flyer a “declaration of war against Jewish students” and a “frontal assault on all children”.

“Using schools as recruiting grounds and teachers as weapons to brainwash young people and to promote a toxic and ugly agenda cannot become the normal in Victoria,” he said.

“I would not be surprised if Jewish students would be afraid of sending their kids to schools in this area, knowing that they would be putting them in harm’s way and exposing them to the risk of harassment and vilification.”

Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission outside the Central Shule Chabad Synagogue in Caulfield South. Picture: Josie Hayden

Dr Abramovich urged principals to tell their staff that they would be sent home if they participate in “this dangerous incitement”.

“In a climate of escalating anti-Semitism and a growing rhetoric of intolerance and radicalisation, teachers have a role in promoting an inclusive culture, not to act as agents of propaganda and division,” he said.

State Opposition Education spokeswoman Jess Wilson claims the Allan government have been “flat-footed” on the issue.

“The Education Minister needed to take a strong stance yesterday morning,” she said.

“We have situation in Victoria where we’re seeing a rise in anti-Semitism. We have very concerned Jewish students, Jewish parents and Jewish teachers, and this will only seem to create more disunity in our classrooms and more disunity in our schools.”

The flyer calling on teachers to show solidarity for Palestine

“The department is now putting out communication after the fact. This is a failure by the Education Minister and the Premier not to have reacted much faster.”

She said she expects the department to investigate instances where teachers participate in the action and that “appropriate action” is taken if professional standards are breached.

The week of solidarity comes after protesters marched through Melbourne’s CBD for the seventh week in a row and students ditched school to strike for Palestine.

Another student walkout is planned for December 7.

A spokeswoman for the AEU Victoria branch said the union would not be commenting on the action.