Backlash is mounting over a Melbourne public school’s decision to introduce a puffer jacket featuring the pride and Australian Aboriginal flags.
Some parents have been left outraged by the controversial move and have accused Cheltenham Secondary College for making a “political statement”.
The $89.95 winter jackets are not compulsory to wear or purchase, and are a secondary option to the standard ‘softshell’ jacket.
The Victorian Education Department has stated that the decision to bring in the uniform item was made by the school’s council, which is made up of both parents and students.
Despite this fact, the move has been slammed by some furious parents, who say that it is “forcing a political agenda” on to their children.
Speaking on the Today show, host Karl Stefanovic said he sympathised with upset parents and described the move as an “unnecessary complication”.
Stefanovic made the comments during an interview with Adam Voigt, founder and CEO of Real Schools, who conceded it was an “uncomfortable” issue to talk about.
“This is a school genuinely trying to do the right thing, trying to do something good,” Mr Voigt told Today.
“I don’t think it’s just about the principal of the school pushing an agenda, this is something that seems to have been done quite collaboratively. I think however, we need to walk really carefully.
“We in schools, and this is pretty universal, are often saying we stand for building critical thinkers, for young people to make decisions for themselves about what they value and think.
“Any time we catch ourselves starting to step into the realm of telling kids what to think rather than how to think, we need to take that step really cautiously.”
Mr Voigt added that it could cause some division between children whose family’s may hold different beliefs.
“On the surface it feels like they’re trying to do something good. You have to think about what happens after,” he said.
“What happens when we have some kids who conscientiously object and come to school with one of the flags covered up? Are we going to be okay with Facebook groups being launched that try to ban social justice fundamentalism in schools?”
Mr Voigt said Australia needed to be careful to avoid becoming like America, where students and teachers are asked to “make pledges to several social causes to stop them thinking them through and debating it like grown-ups.”
Stefanovic agreed, saying: “Maybe the majority of kids want to support it (the flags) and they have enough background on it, but the kids who don’t ... if they’re in some way discriminated against because they’re not wearing it, it’s complicated.”
The jacket includes the school emblem and the words “respect”, “responsibility”, “personal best” and “community”.
CEO of Parents Victoria Gail McHardy said she could not understand where the outrage was stemming from, given it was a decision made internally.
“Unfortunately in the school landscape there are occasions where there is much uproar about nothing, sadly,” she told Sunrise.
“People have to understand that Victorian schools are autonomous, they have the decision making powers in setting school uniform policy and the school uniform provider.
“The school council took all the steps to fulfil those obligations. It’s interesting that the people objecting to this are really unclear about what they’re objecting to.
“Schools work hard to be inclusive for everybody.
“But as you can imagine, schools cannot please everybody, all the time.”
Ms McHardy said she commended the school for consulting with students and fulfilling the needs of students.
She added that the school never intended to be divisive.
“It is not a compulsory item, so that’s why we’re a bit confused about the uproar,” she said.
“You choose to purchase it or not, or wear it or not. There are other alternatives.
“We live in a society today where the world is changing, some of those values and beliefs are not the same as everybody elses.
“We as an organisation support parents and schools to ensure they work better together and have quality relationships and partnerships in state education.”
A Department of Education spokesperson said the student community had suggested the jacket design.
“The jacket was initiated by the student community and is not a compulsory part of the school uniform,” they said.
“School uniform policies for our schools are determined by school councils.
“Like all our state schools, Cheltenham Secondary College is proud to be a safe and welcoming school.”
Penny, whose son attends Cheltenham Secondary College, spoke with 3AW host Neil Mitchell on Monday and revealed the school would not allow students to remove or black out the flags with a marker.
“I think the fact that they have those flags on a school uniform is disgusting, it’s not right,” she said.
“It’s a school, it’s not a political statement … why do specific people get things on the uniform?”
Another caller, named John, said he had heard from a source that parents trying to remove the flags were told they were defacing the garment.
“They should stick to educating our kids,” he said.
Another told Mitchell that non-Christian students who removed the flags from the jacket were “left alone”.
Mitchell called the move “an attack of woke”.
“I’m all in favour of celebrating diversity and recognising the Indigenous heritage – it’s not about that, but it’s a step too far to involve the kids in that, and if they are being punished for not wearing it, that’s just absurd.”
He also believed that it was “odd” the Australian flag was missing.
Cheltenham SC took to Facebook to unveil its new optional addition to its uniform on May 19.
“The puffer jacket is offered as an additional/alternate item and is not a replacement for the softshell jacket, which is still part of the college uniform,” it said in a post.
Two parents commented, one saying it looked “fantastic”.
More Coverage
“I love it! The flags on the sides are wonderful too!” said the other.
The school been contacted for comment.
-With NCA Newswire
Read related topics:MelbournencG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ7y6Kdnqukrrmme8%2BaqZ6mpJ67qHvSnJ%2Bop5xiuaqyxGidrqqZpMK0ec%2BaqZ6mpKh6tLjApmSpp5yewaqvwKVkqa2Wm7KzecmamqSdpGS7psPSZqqtp6KufKavwp5smp6WmoF1rpWfZ5%2BalWV%2BdHzCcp1pmmJpf3qy