One of the faster u-turns in Ireland in recent years was performed this week by a South Dublin Primary School.
On Monday, Mount Anville Primary School issued a letter to all parents informing “the school community” that Friday, June 20th, would be “Prayer for Palestine” day, during which the school would “focus on Palestine”.
The letter to parents said that the day in question would see the school talk about Palestinian culture, food, art, and geography. Parents were also informed that the day would be about “reaching out in compassion and solidarity” to “the innocent children of Gaza who are suffering unprecedented suffering and starvation”:
Gript Media understands that the letter provoked a strong and angry reaction from a section of parents within the school, who objected to the “one sided” and “political” nature of the proposed event. One parent said that the school’s proposal was particularly objectionable in the context of the suffering inflicted on Israeli children on October 7th 2023, which included the murdering of parents and grandparents in front of children’s eyes, as well as the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the Bibas children and their mother. Irish child Emily Hand was also kidnapped by Hamas that day.
Another parent raised concern about the event “indoctrinating” children, noting that the proposed event would “discuss the geography of Palestine, whatever that means, since there is no agreed geographical limit on the territory of a Palestinian state”. “The Palestinian Authority and Hamas both claim the entire land of Israel as being rightfully Palestinian”, the parent went on. “Does that mean that children were to be taught that Israel is illegitimate?”
A third parent noted that the focus on Palestine was unusual, given the vastly greater number of children at risk of starvation and hunger in Sudan. “This just feels nakedly political”, she said.
In any case, having issued the initial letter on Monday, and having received an email from this reporter seeking clarity (which has gone unanswered at the time of writing) the school swiftly backtracked. Yesterday afternoon, the event was cancelled, citing “concerns among some members of our school community”:
Gript Media has sought comment from Mount Anville Primary School Principal, Ms Angela Munro. We will update this piece with the school’s perspective should such comment be received.