Media Coverage:
The Age
The Australian Jewish News
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), Australia’s leading organisation fighting anti-Semitism and hatred in all its forms, has welcomed the review ordered by the Minister of Education James Merlino of the selection criteria for the VCE Drama and Theatre Studies Playlist, in particular criteria four which aims to ensure that plays, “be appropriate for the age and development of students, reflect community standards and expectations and meet school-sector guidelines.”
Mr Merlino has asked that, “the VCAA review the guideline requiring texts to be compliant with community standards and extend it to ensure that views and sensitivities of cultural and religious groups are considered.”
This followed the ADC’s breaking of the news that the Samah Sabawi play Tales of a City by the Sea was selected for the VCE drama list and its strong criticism of the VCAA’s decision.
In the meeting, the ADC reiterated its earlier concerns that the play promotes an anti-Israel agenda which is inappropriate for the VCE syllabus, demonises the Jewish state and the Jewish faith, and fosters an unacceptably hostile environment for Jewish students.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“We welcome the review by Minister Merlino and thank him for the leadership he has taken on this issue. We told the minister that the VCE curriculum should not have been allowed to be hijacked by an Israel-bashing play whose core message and demonisation of Israelis and Jews as ugly, cold-stone murderers go against the fundamental objective of creating a safe and inclusive environment in schools. No Jewish student should be placed in the poisonous and unfair position of having to defend Israel’s—and by extension the Jewish religion’s— immoral and cruel conduct in the face of the inevitable anger that will be felt by their classmates after watching the play. Victorian parents have the reasonable expectation that their children will not be exposed to any pedagogical materials that distort the truth, incite to hatred and create tension and disharmony between their friends at schools. The VCAA selection process must reflect community standards by ensuring that students are provided with plays that promote understanding of complex issues and which furnish its learners with appropriate context and balance, rather than to texts whose entire purpose is to indoctrinate them with a one-sided, blatant anti-Israel propaganda. The multicultural Victorian community will not countenance any element that plants the seeds of division in the minds of young minds and hearts, and which harm the inclusive and respectful environment at schools we are all very proud of.”
The Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677
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or visit our website at antidef.org.au