School students marching in support of Palestine

[Sausagenbacon]

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/palestine-march-tower-hamlets-east-london-israel-gaza-b1120876.html
Why are schools allowing/enabling students to do this?
Is it part of what schools should do, promoting frankly one-sided protest? And what will they decide to march about next? Just imagine being a Jewish student in the middle of this.
I find it sinister.

It's the very idea that facts speak for themselves that some seem to find difficult to accept! Instead they are insisting that radicalisation, politicisation, brainwashing - just a few of the words used in conjunction with this protest - are responsible for young people protesting, rather than recognising that the bare facts alone might, just might, be the motivation.

@watcherintherye Yes, it's interesting that many seem to be looking for complicated explanations, like brainwashing etc. Anyone with kids knows they are very quick to spot when things are unfair. If they watch the news they see millions of people being bombed, starved and tortured, of course they will be upset and compelled to speak. I can certainly see why the children would protest. I was thinking initially that children should not be taught political opinions, but in fact they may have just come to this conclusion themselves. Apologies, I was probably going off on a tangent!

The language used to describe anybody who expresses concern about the Palestinians is really ramping up. It started off with "antisemite" and "Jew hater" and is now synonymous with poor/unstable mental health. It's most sinister.

My school like many other I know stayed neutral. We have children from all backgrounds so it is pretty much a no brainer for London schools anyway

We did offer counselling and support for any students and families affected on both sides. Plus there was a mixed group of students that were part of a weekly lunchtime lets talk about it session. All of which was voluntary.

Schools should always stay neutral. Other than some charity things for civilians affected I can't remember any school being more than neutral. No politicising that I can remember. As it is still an on going situation we have remained neutral to protect our few Russian staff members and the small number of Ukraine & Russian heritage student.

Israel has been criticised for years and for good reason, this isn’t a recent thing and Jewish people need to accept that.

As an aside, the OP’s username is sausagenbacon, well I hope it’s kosher because the loudest anti-Palestine/zionist voices, i.e. Baddiel and Riley, are the least practicing Jews yet believe Palestine land belongs to them In a religious sense. Huge hypocrites.

Is that ramping up? I would say similar level or less. Sorry a bit beside the point but that take is odd.

I would have thought it is better to be called someone mentally unstable than a racist. I mean the mental health thing suggests a person should be excused because they can't help it. Whereas being called a term that is on a level with racism means people think the people choosing to be a hateful fuckwit

My DC's school did have a day where they bring in donations and wear blue and yellow to show support for Ukraine. This is a primary school, I know its different to a march but both are political. And calling one out and ignoring the other would be hypocritical

Children showing humanity how wonderful

I think a lot of people would say they are protesting because they want a ceasefire not because they are on one side. It may seem that way as it was Israel who stated the war (after severe provocation, yes I know, before anyone jumps on me).

I was reading on the BBC website just now that quite apart from being bombed the people in Gaza are “at imminent risk of starvation” (I’d link but it’s in the live feed thing). I think something has to be done tbh.

Same, no condemnation or criticism there…. Wonder why? 🧐

Did you call that out with the school at the time? This politicising of your children as one poster called it.

I would have thought it is better to be called someone mentally unstable than a racist. I mean the mental health thing suggests a person should be excused because they can't help it. Whereas being called a term that is on a level with racism means people think the people choosing to be a hateful fuckwit

Sounds like gas lighting to me.

What makes you think that schools have allowed or enabled this?

In truth no I didn't, and maybe i should have. But I did say above that I also don't agree with the school organising a march for Palestine.
Purely because it sets a dangerous precedent. Today it might be something I agree with and tomorrow if its something else I don't then what?

Then surely that is what a child centred protest would be about. Not an adult on a Megaphone shouting about Israel being a terrorist state and getting children to join in. Which is what happened that makes it a serious issue that needs investigating.

When I say ramping up I mean that "antisemite" is the obvious one to start with. No one wants to be accused of racism, and in theory it's an easy, immediate way to shut things down. But it was being used constantly and sort of lost its intended effect. The unstable mental health inferences are more dangerous I believe, in the sense that you are accusing someone of not being in possession of their faculties and aren't capable of coming to an informed conclusion.

I can't get worked up about this if it's done by choice.

At 13 I was out on marches shouting about Ariel Sharon being a terrorist, among other things. Some of them on weekdays! Right now I'm pro-Israel - honestly because October 7th really shocked me. I was as entitled to my opinion then as I am now, and I don't regret standing for what I thought then.

So long as schools aren't telling students to get involved it's fine.

I genuinely don't mean this in a goady way, but I think a lot of the world are thinking this after Israel's actions and the statements made by government officials. An individual shouting it through a megaphone isn't new news.

Next time challenge the school if you think they are taking political sides. Though I support Ukraine over Putin I would not be happy if my childrens school took a side. Raising money or donations for civilians affected is a little different to wearing flag colours to support a side. The school needs to understand it isn't acceptable to be anything other than neutral politically. I would go at this softly. Headteachers and SLT are just people that sometimes get the odd things wrong but say something.

Just realised writing that Idon't really like flags in general. I must be flagist or something. I look at flags being waved an internally groan. It is the inner hippy in me that just wants everyone to get on without people having to worry about nationality, race or differences in general.

I an not arguing if what was shouted is right or wrong. It is the fact that this isn't a appropriate thing to do with a bunch of children. If the person was shouting Hamas are terrorists and getting the children to join in I promise I would be saying the exact same thing on a thread about that

Our children are not toys to use for political reasons by adults. Children will hear stand be told stuff about the conflict. Many will have their own opinions, especially older children. However a school protest being lead by adults is seriously wrong on so many levels and a safeguarding issue.

Sounds like a sensible question and conversation to me. Whereas you sound like you what to shut down conversation if you don't agree with it

Not wanting children murdered is not really political. They aren't marching for Hammas are they? They are marching to protest the deaths of children during this conflict.

I get where you are coming from with that. Ultimately if someone is believed to be mentally unable to make safe choices they could have the liberty of making their own choices taken away or even get locked up

However in this case I would argue that are old friend context is needed. Someone saying a person is a Jew hater vs someone saying the person is mentally unable to come to an informed decision is basically the same thing to me. The end suggestion is someone saying you are wrong and that your opinion is invalid. At least that is the case in most arguments I have seen.

Anyway enough derailing the thread from us I think. We should probably agree to disagree about it.

This reminds me of my childhood, when we were taken out of school to march and shout slogans for the "beloved" leader and the communist party.