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.

Thank you to those who recognise that the issue is about whether it is appropriate to wear items that might be perceived as political symbols, in this case relating to an active conflict. It is not about choosing sides in this conflict. And yes, I am pretty sure it goes against the Teachers' Standards as well. I don't understand why some people feel neutrality is such a bad trait in teachers. It doesn't mean that we can't encourage debate! It's just asking a lot of a young person to disagree with an authority figure with a clear political standpoint. That's not the starting point for a free and fair debate. Also, fwiw, the conflict in Gaza is not really connected to the curriculum in my subject.

It's a bit like being a newsreader really

The OP said she didn't paint her nails for Ukraine. And compares this to (not) wearing a keffiyeh. Already in bad faith, comparing a trivial and modern fashion statement to a cultural expression that has various meanings.

I've been deliberately misread as saying rape is resistance when I clearly also refer to anger. Men rape in war. It's a patriarchy problem. (Though the IDF wanting international support for raping opponents is a new twist.)

Someone refers to a presumably non-Jewish colleague policing a Muslim colleague for carrying a slogan that supposedly upsets Jewish people. Are you all playing good Jew bad Jew and conflating Jewish with Zionist? Any care for Jewish resistance within Israel? Or UK movements like Na'amod?

Any care for the very real trauma around Modi's India and saffron wearing or UK sectarianism and orange/green? Or just policing Arab symbols?

And do you not know that structural sin isn't a sentiment to resonate with but an actual theological concept in a religion? It's what animates our peace and justice movements. It's not a thing I feel, it's an ethical imperative I reckon with. Anyone teaching religion at your school? Maybe check with them. My Jewish friends also have brought up concepts of responsibility to humanity but it's not my place to quote them. Just to say Zionism has not coopted their religion.

I'm deleting my account, so don't bother tagging me. It's pitiful that you keep bringing it back to my supposedly having a good opinion of myself. My relatives were in the RAF in WWII not because they fancied flying planes but because some peace and justice issues are bigger than any individual. This is one. Take sides. Care where your taxes go.

👋🏻

Oh and how wearing a keffiyeh helps is that 1. Symbol wearing encourages Palestinians living among us and those in the Middle East who see/hear of it that their suffering is recognised and they are not 'animals' to be dehumanised as the Israeli state rhetoric has been doing. If you haven't heard this you haven't been talking to many Palestinians. 2. It uncovers who's Islamphobic and triggered by a keffiyeh. 3. It helps trace weirdly similar threads on Mumsnet.

I'm deleting my account because I can't keep up with hasbara, or the whole "my fear as a person in the UK weighs against the death of hundreds of thousands". Nobody is made safer by a genocide in their name. Nobody.

Um. What?

OP. it's totally inappropriate and hopefully SLT will tell him so

all the virtue signallers wearing these (ie not those who have a cultural right to) make me cringe.

It's quite sad actually

Do delete it. Find a way to make a positive action so that you have some hope for humanity. Action = Hope.
Let me tell you clearly though that teachers are in the profession to take positive action against bigotry and hate. They literally dedicate their lives to positively impacting children. So, do think on that before you call to ‘take sides’ . Educators choose the side ‘knowledge’.

OP you're talking about being neutral and also saying that you see nothing wrong with wearing a Ukrainian flag on a badge. Wonder how you'd feel about me wearing a Palestinian flag on a badge.... Careful, you're at risk of showing your true colours. I truly despair at the values of adults like you who stand in front of our kids everyday.

Are the kids allowed to wear headscarves in red? If not then the teachers shouldn't either. I personally wouldn't mind what teachers or children wore as I'm pretty anti-uniform. But if it will cause unease among a particular group then it probably shouldn't be worn. Has anyone actually objected to it? Other than you obviously.

I really really hope you aren’t a teacher…

Sorry I meant the OP has Russian heritage pupils and may have had to learn to accommodate different etiquette around freedom of speech.

@CountFucula "Action = Hope" is a slogan not a meaningful reflection. The substantive points around other symbols in the UK and the definition of cultural appropriation are being ignored.

Maybe the teachers on this thread are really pressed for time and used to talking over people to deliver their set curriculum. I hope for better.

YABVU and racist

I note that OP has Russian heritage, so maybe doesn't have British etiquette around freedom of speech.

You still here? I thought you were away.

You're sounding like the bigoted and misinformed person on this thread. I'd away and delete that account now like you said and save yourself more embarrassment.

"Resistance effort"? Sorry, are you talking about 7/10 here?

You said you think Hamas are resistance, Hamas are rapists. Ego according to you rape is resistance.