Wednesday, 20 March 2024

Petitions

Middle East conflict

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) presented a petition bearing 1775 signatures:

Issue:

This petition of residents in Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Assembly the matter of teachers in the Victorian Department of Education with some Australian Education Union branches participating in a week of action supporting Palestine. Teachers and support staff are being asked to wear Palestinian keffiyehs and display other symbols of Palestinian identity into schools and students are being encouraged to participate in marches and other activities supporting Palestinians. Such activities are marginalising other students who are of a different national identity in the region and can only serve to inflame and heighten tensions that possibly can lead to tragic consequences. The role of teachers and support staff in schools is that of educators and not political activists. Educators should be encouraging students to learn in the school environment and not to march in the streets during school hours. Personal political bias and membership of political parties is not forbidden for teachers; but teachers should not be bringing those opinions and bias into the classrooms to influence students unduly. It is also contrary to the Department of Education guidelines which strongly supports equitable and safe learning environments for all students in schools. to always be maintained.

Action:

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly call on the Government to mandate that teachers who involve themselves in actions such as the call to a Pro-Palestine week of action where students are indoctrinated and encouraged to be involved in activities that hold a political bias and can only serve to raise tensions within the school and community to be stood down or terminated for going against Departmental policy guidelines. These guidelines require teachers and schools to provide a safe and equitable environment for all students, including students from minority groups within our larger inclusive society. For teachers to be involved in such activities is inappropriate and unprofessional as it puts at least one group of students at risk.

Ordered that petition be considered tomorrow.