The New South Wales Teachers Federation has urged its members to wear the Palestinian Keffiyeh and advocate for the end of bombing in Gaza as a show of solidarity with Palestine.
Sky News Australia host Sharri Markson revealed on Tuesday the top teachers’ union endorsed its members wanting to show their support in public school classrooms.
A Facebook group called “Teachers and School Staff for Palestine Group” posted on the platform on Saturday to confirm “teachers can proudly and safely wear Keffiyeh to work with backing of NSW Teachers Federation”.
“Our week of action has been extended for a week, please take photos at work teachers wearing Keffiyeh or with signs calling to end the siege and bombing of Gaza and send to us. If any principal tries to stop you, get the NSWTF to speak to your principal,” the post read.
The Teachers Federation State Council moved a motion on the weekend with multiple amendments encouraging teachers to use their classroom to advocate for the Palestinian side.
One amendment says the union will work the state government to guarantee teachers will be “free to show support to colleagues and students in Gaza” without fear of breaching the Education Department’s code of conduct.
The union has also vowed to “pressure” the Minns Labor government to advocate for a ceasefire, and to encourage its members to attend weekly protests for Gaza.
Ms Markson ripped into the latest union advocacy for Gaza slamming it as “clear, disgusting bullying”.
“To say this is all highly, highly offensive – enormously troubling – is an understatement,” Ms Markson said on Tuesday.
“It would make children in public classrooms feel unsafe, threatened, alienated and bullied. This is clear disgusting bullying from teachers.
“Those teachers can believe or think whatever they like – but they have no right to bring it into the classroom and make the classroom an unsafe place for Jewish students.
“I can’t believe this has been allowed to happen.”
Ms Markson criticised the teachers’ union for advocating “political protest” in light of deteriorating numeracy and literacy numbers.
“The whole purpose of the teachers federation is to improve teachers working conditions and pay. They should have absolutely nothing to do with political protest,” she said.
“And the purposes of teachers are to educate our children – to improve the declining literacy and numeracy rates.
“This truly makes my blood boil.”
Responding to requests for comment, the NSW Teachers Federation said: “Teachers must be afforded the professional respect to dress as they so choose. This includes those that choose to wear a keffiyeh or kippah.”
It’s understood the Department of Education has reminded staff of their obligations to remain politically neutral and that any teacher found to be in breach of the code of conduct would be subject to appropriate action.
The Department says it doesn’t endorse the activity of the Teachers For Palestine group.
(Sky News)
