‘Poisonous’ letter from Victorian teachers to Jason Clare and Ben Carroll

More than 700 Victorians have signed a letter pressuring Jason Clare and Ben Carroll to condemn human rights abuses by Israel, as Jewish leaders call on schools to denounce the campaign.

Protesters at a free Palestine rally in Melbourne CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Crosling

Federal and state education ministers Jason Clare and Ben Carroll are under pressure from Victorian teachers to condemn “human rights abuses being carried out by Israel” and advise principals that Palestinian advocacy is in line with the public sector code of conduct.

More than 700 teachers and school staff have signed their names to an open letter urging the ministers to “protect children’s and young people’s wellbeing” in regards to Palestine.

The open letter states that Palestinian children and young people have been disproportionately killed, injured and displaced, and the Australian governments should take “an ethical stand”.

“Our own students are also witnessing the catastrophic devastation unfold, which will have short and long-term effects on their social, emotional and cultural wellbeing, impeding their capacity to live and learn well,” it says. “In response to the indefensible actions causing catastrophic harm, it is essential for people and governments to take an ethical stand, including those who remain accountable to the responsibility of caring for children and young people.”

The letter says that it is within teachers’ “professional and ethical duty to model an anti-violence position”.

Some teachers used the weekly Free Palestine rally in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday to march to the Department of Education building.

A Department of Education spokesman said the Victorian Public Sector Code of Conduct requires employees to seek to build and maintain public trust and demonstrate integrity and impartiality. “Teachers should not use their professional position to make political statements but instead support students to consider and think critically about a range of perspectives on complex issues,” the spokesman told The Australian.

“The overwhelming majority of principals and school staff continue to do an excellent job – as they have done since the events of 7 October – in supporting school communities through what continues to be for so many a deeply distressing time.”

Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll at an Israel Solidarity event. Picture: Josie Hayden

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said he wanted principals to demonstrate “moral leadership”.

“This is textbook strategy to exploit schools as recruiting grounds and teachers as weapons to brainwash young people and promote a toxic, ugly anti-Israel agenda. I would not be surprised if there are Jewish parents who insist that their child not attend any lesson delivered by the educators who have attached their name to this one-side, poisonous letter,” he said.

“As we witness an alarming surge in anti-Semitism and a growing rhetoric of radicalis­ation across the country, teachers have a role in promoting an inclusive culture, not to act as agents of propaganda and division. If they do, they are violating and betraying every tenet and code they have sworn to uphold and should reconsider their role in the education system.”

Teachers Professional Association of Australia secretary Edward Schuller said the group “vehemently oppose any attempt to push political agendas onto children”.