Is this appropriate in the classroom?

[Notsurewhatithink]

I am a teacher at a secondary school. The other day, one of my colleagues wore a (red) keffiyeh scarf to work.

I can't decide whether this is inappropriate or not. I don't think anyone would object to a Ukrainian flag on a badge, but I definitely refrained from painting my nails blue and yellow when Putin invaded Ukraine because I had Russian ancestry pupils and thought it best to leave it outside the classroom. FWIW, I know we have some Muslim pupils and colleagues. We no doubt have Jewish pupils and colleagues too, I'm just not as aware of it. I know my colleague has some strong leftwing views. This has irritated me in the past and I am not sure whether that is influencing me now.

Political symbols are banned from most offices. If it is being worn as a political symbol I don't see why it should be any different in a school.

It's a political statement. Doubtless you have to explain the situation to your students and try to set the context of the horrific situation in Gaza, but this seems to be stepping over the boundary to me.

I think teachers should leave their personal political beliefs at the door. We shouldn't wear symbols that could be perceived as attempting to influence students. With the Middle East conflict, there's the additional possibility of upsetting or offending some students.

Your again!

? You've lost me here?

Every item of clothing has political meaning if you look at it ecologically.

Polyester-wearers are supporting microplastic pollution. Cotton-wearers don't care about child labour, contaminated rivers, and cancer deaths.

Are religious symbols not also political? Most religions have sociopolitical values and implications.

Do you know if people wearing saffron scarves support Narendra Modi or are Islamophobic?

How about green around St Patrick's Day or at all?

"Mum, what did you do during the genocide?" "I made sure not to wear a political scarf to work."

FFS!

One of the biggest load of bollocks I've ever read. Kudos.

Thanks! You will be asked one day.

Keffiyahs are part of traditional dress in the Arab world. Different colours and patterns have different meanings and some are tribal/family. The Palestinian one is most often black, red is traditionally Gulf Arab or Jordanian. So you're being both racist and ill informed. People are allowed to wear whatever cultural clothing they want.

Which genocide do you mean though? The Rohinga genocide? The Darfur genocide? The Yazidi Genocide? The Mbuti Genocide? Do tell, Mum!

Or do you just mean the one that social media has told you you should have an opinion on?

I'm not your Mum. I'd have raised you better.
Unlike you, I have diverse friends and reasons to care about things.
The one and only genocide we are not supposed to talk about as if it's a bad thing, but to shut up and be grateful for the arms trade. The one being carried out in some of our names.
Can you think which that might be? Any your school hasn't had an art competition or fundraiser about?

Ill-informed maybe, racist not so much. I am asking a genuine question.

How about the Northern white working class male wearing this item to work? Someone I know to have very left-wing views and to have been accused of antisemitism (made it into the papers) in the past? Is that not cultural appropriation? Is that not worse than me wanting to maintain neutrality in the classroom?

It isn't cultural appropriation according to originary keffiyeh-wearers themselves. It's appreciation and solidarity.

Did you check in with South Asian Muslims during Diwali? Because with Modi's massacres and persecutions that's worth checking.

Seriously do you notice the wearing of the green around St Patrick's?

Have you noticed members of various Jewish communities condemn the genocide as a betrayal of Judaism?

Why is neutrality in the face of horror a better teaching stance to start from?

It's an important symbol of solidarity in the face of genocide.

I just can't imagine a world in which people think supporting genocide is okay.... coz the victims are Arab makes me sick!

I think we can both be grateful for that.

Not supposed to talk about it, as though Gaza isn't being talked about everywhere. Talk is cheap, if it's all you've got don't expect anyone to be impressed.

I hope you don't come on here to impress people.

Please do some research on censorship, law suits, complaints, differential treatment, firing of workers, institutional statements of solidarity. I agree you've been wasting your time on talk if you're not aware of the actual suppression attempted and the mischievous propaganda at work.

I'm not the kind of Mum to do your homework for you.

I won’t, my children don’t need to ask they already know I oppose terrorism.

My students have no idea of my political stance. I am there to educate not indoctrinate.

Great, may your children grow up to ask good questions.

Eh? Never known an office to ban political symbols.

Opposing terrorism is a meaningless statement when depends on who you view as the terrorists in any given situation.

Kids are very good at asking questions. And questioning the answers they are given. Considering who is giving you what information and why is something some adults never manage.

I disagree, I think acts of terrorism are quite clear. For example, I don’t consider rape as protest but as acts of terror. Others disagree.

What's quite interesting is that neutrality in a teacher of older kids obviously is a pretence during times like these, and also is an ineffective teaching tool. Neutrality vs indoctrination isn't a real opposition. My teachers held views, some passionately, and empowered us to form our own views debating them and each other. Expediency and false peace do not a good education make.