Principal apologises for student behaviour

The principal of Gladstone Park Secondary College has issued an apology after students from the school engaged in antisemitic behaviour during a visit to Melbourne Museum.

Mount Scopus Memorial College year 5 students on an excursion were subjected to slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “Dirty Jew” from the Gladstone Park students.

Principal Veronica Hoy described the conduct as “completely deplorable” and announced an investigation into the incident, which occurred during a year seven excursion.

“Racism has no place in or outside of the classroom,” Hoy said in a statement.

“We recognise that words and actions rooted in discrimination are not just hurtful, but deeply traumatic and unacceptable.”

The principal acknowledged the behaviour did not represent the school’s values but said she was taking responsibility for investigating what motivated such conduct.

“These are not the behaviours I, or the leadership team at Gladstone Park Secondary College, expect of our students, and they do not represent our values as a school community. Nevertheless, they have occurred, and I take responsibility for putting in place an investigation to get to the heart of what motivates such behaviour,” she stated.

Hoy said the school would work with the Department of Education and Jewish community partners to educate students and prevent repeat incidents.

“I will also be reviewing this incident with my leadership team as we develop a broader response to addressing racism in our school, in line with the Department of Education’s new policy on this, and will work with the department and its partners in the Jewish community to appropriately educate our students and ensure that such behaviours are not repeated.”

However, the principal’s statement did not address the reported failure of Gladstone Park staff supervising the year 7 group to respond appropriately when they were spoken to by Mount Scopus staff  about their students’ behaviour.