A pupil asked me this at school today...

[ItWasnaMeGuv]

"I support the Palestinians against the genocidal Israelies. What side are you on Palestinian or Israel?" I am a support assistant who helps in the playground where this happened. I have never, in 25 years doing this job, been asked such a personal question. I replied "well, that is a very personal question." Then changed the subject. Child is P6 (Scotland) or (Y5 England/Wales).

I’d have just said I’m on the side of peace.
I think it’s quite usual for older primary kids to know what’s going on in the world.

Child is clearly just parroting and will have very little actual understanding of such a complex issue.

The child is 11? I’m not in UK. The child is repeating a mantra from parents I imagine.

I think you answered the best way.

Good on that child for being switched on to atrocities around the world. He/she is still young so probably needs to learn when it isn’t appropriate to bring these things up, but I can’t see why what’s that personal about it or why it shocked you so much you needed to start a thread.

My dd is P6 and she is definitely aware of the conflict. I discuss it with her, but say I’m on the side of peace. I don’t think she’d ask a PSA about it though.

Surprised you didn't get asked if you supported Palestine during the Viva Palestina movement in 2012, is it a very white school? It was everywhere in my predominantly Asian city. There were wristbands and most kids and teachers had them.

@Andthereyougo ‘s answer is very good. It seems fairly normal for that age, to be aware of what’s happening in the wider world, but not have the maturity to understand the nuance or why it might be an uncomfortable/ intrusive question.

I wouldn't see that as a personal question, just trying discuss a 'hot topic's. I'm amazed no child that age has ever tried to talk to you about similar. And you couldn't think of any better response?

I'm also very surprised they used those words.

Students often ask who you vote for around election time or your opinion on Boris/Trump etc. you just deflect it as you did and move on.

The child may not be parroting DD used to watch News round / Sky News Jr and read the children's newspaper and was definitely stating to form her own opinions.

It’s not a ‘personal’ question, @ItWasnaMeGuv. It’s a question on current affairs. I find it really hard to believe children lucky enough to be in school have never, in a quarter of a century, asked you about current politics.

If you find it distinctively personal, that’s a different matter. It’s a perfectly normal thing for children of their age to ask.

I don't think it's a personal question, have you never been asked who you've voted for or opinions on independence? Surely it's been discussed at school? Our year 5s have had an assembly and classroom discussions and we talk about a lot of current affairs at home in a age related way.

It's the wording that makes it likely to be parroting.
A child saying "Miss what do you think about the war in the middle east, I support Palestine, do you?" Absolutely. The wording in the OP is definitely regurgitated.

It was a question I would have deflected too.

But it wasn’t a personal question. A personal question is about you as a person, like are you married, do you like icecream etc….

It's a very leading and loaded question, the way it was put to you.

None of your business would be the right answer.

Discussing is one thing if it is a lesson. Asking the personal opinion of a member of staff is quite another. It is not professional to get drawn in and be asked to "choose a side" on such contentious issues. I have never talked about my opinions on independence, football teams, political parties etc. My opinion is irrelevant in a school setting.

Yes, it was a totally unexpected comment coming from this particular child. and yes,I probably could have said "not your business", but I would not usually be so blunt.

I'd be surprised if a Year 5 child had a sense of what was 'not professional' to ask a member of the teaching staff at school. Children of that age are often total news junkies. DS's class (he's 11) had an up close view in the Ukrainian war when two Ukrainian refugee kids joined their class, and they'll be aware of local demos etc -- a restaurant we often go to is run by naturalised Palestinian refugees and they donated a day of profits to a relief charity in October.

Your opinion may well be irrelevant in a school context, but I think you're expecting too much of nine and ten year olds to grasp that, or quite how emotive and complex this conflict is.

You work closely with primary school children and THIS is the most personal thing you've ever been asked?

Not if you're married, or have children? Why you were smoking when Katy saw you on Sunday, or if you've ever been arrested?

Fucking strange kids.

I don’t think you actually know what a personal question is. I think it’s really bad to slap down a child asking about world events. I agree with PPs that something along the lines of “I’m on the side of with peace” would have been a good answer.

I don't think the child would have regarded it as a personal question though. I would expect a child that age to have a vague awareness of the conflict (though they may be repeating what their parents have said as the language is unusual for a child that age), but the child wouldn't have regarded it as a personal question, because at that age they don't have a very nuanced understand of what is/isn't an appropriate topic for a playground chat with an adult!!

I would have just said something very general - I'm on the side of peace for all concerned, I don't want to see any innocent civilians suffer.

You sound really offended. Kids are kids and they don't get the nuances of how to ask stuff like this and to whom.
If you intend to remain as a TA you need to get used to this, learn more about child development, and not take these things personally.

'I'm on the side of peace' is fine. As is 'this is a really complex situation that has been going on for many years, and I'm still learning about it'

I didn’t understand your reference to football teams, @ItWasnaMeGuv - though if you’re in Scotland it may be different. In England shared or opposing support of football teams would be a source of camaraderie / good natured rivalry amongst teachers and pupils.

Children ask billions of questions, surely? Don’t you just go with the flow, (within the parameters of school policy) rather than getting all huffy and uptight about it?

It is not professional to get drawn in and be asked to "choose a side" on such contentious issues. I have never talked about my opinions on independence, football teams, political parties etc. My opinion is irrelevant in a school setting.

Exactly so. Your answer was fine, perhaps better would have been a brief explanation that it'd be unprofessional for you to discuss your own personal or political opinions.

The parental brainwashing is strong in that family.

That's a shame this child has already adopted a closed minded attitude of populist division. You are either for or against something. Black and white. Poor child, but very common these days. Their parents are probably quite simple minded too.

I'd have replied I support peace and that all people should try and get on.