A former school principal claims she was forced to resign from her role and ultimately quit teaching after refusing to host a day aimed at supporting LGBTQIA+ students.<\/p>\n
Janelle Rowe, who worked as a teacher for 34 years and as principal at an ACT primary school since last year, said she was forced out of the role after she refused to take part in Wear It Purple Day.<\/p>\n
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Ms Rowe argued the day was \u201cnot a harmless dress-up day\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt requires teachers to explain what these lifestyles are about to children and I don\u2019t feel it\u2019s the place of schools to be talking about sexualised issues with infants and primary students,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cAt age four through to 12, these are still issues for parents and for families.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow it\u2019s dealt with and at what age, that\u2019s not for the school or teachers, that\u2019s for home.\u201d <\/p>\n
Wear It Purple Day was established in 2010 to \u201cfoster safer, more inclusive environments where young people can be proud of who they are and hopeful about their future\u201d.<\/p>\n
The day takes place on the last Friday of August, with students and teachers encouraged to wear purple and students offered resources about bullying, discrimination and exclusion. <\/p>\n
According to the Wear It Purple website, resources include teaching primary school students in grades 1 and 2 about different types of families, kindness and belonging, while lessons for students in grades 3 and 4 cover belonging and acceptance. Grades 5 and 6 can be taught about courage and what it means to be an ally. <\/p>\n
Ms Rowe told News24 other days celebrated in the school\u2019s curriculum, such as Anzac Day and NAIDOC Week, required \u201cextrapolating\u201d from teachers to help students understand what each event meant and represented.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe go into detail about the history and what the day is about. We provide activities,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s how I saw that where Wear It Purple Day was going to land, I didn\u2019t want my staff to have to talk about what each of the letters meant.\u201d <\/p>\n
Ms Rowe said she \u201ctook a stand\u201d and refused to take part in Wear It Purple Day, claiming she was hauled into head office, where she was confronted with vague workplace allegations. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a phone call, there was an \u2018I need to speak to you face-to-face\u2019, there was a \u2018bring a support person if you want to but come now\u2019, and then I was told a list of allegations and topics that I had done wrong,\u201d she told News24. <\/p>\n
She also claimed \u201chalf the staff were going to quit\u2019 if she refused to take part, and she \u201cneeded to win the confidence back of staff\u201d by taking part in the day. <\/p>\n
After refusing to take part, Ms Rowe said she suggested Wear It Purple Day be replaced with Bullying No Way Week, arguing it was a more appropriate way of \u201cdealing with real issues for young children\u201d. <\/p>\n
However, the school\u2019s records indicate Bullying No Way Week was already in its curriculum, taking place in week 5 of term 3 \u2013 one week before Wear It Purple Day. <\/p>\n
In a statement to NewsWire, ACT Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Education Rachel Stephen-Smith said: \u201cOut of respect for privacy and confidentiality, we do not comment on current or former directorate employees.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMore broadly, the ACT is proud to be the capital of equality,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur message to every young LGBTQIA+ Canberran is that you are seen and valued for who you are. <\/p>\n
\u201cEvery young person has the right to be themselves \u2013 and to be respected, supported and safe at their school.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said \u201cat ACT public schools, inclusion and respect isn\u2019t an add-on, it\u2019s at the heart of our education system\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know our schools are at their best when every student feels valued \u2013 because it means our students can do their best,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Wear It Purple would not comment on the specific case, but said the annual day of awareness was designed to \u201cfoster safe, supportive, empowering and inclusive environments for LGBTQIA+ youth in schools, universities, businesses and community groups across Australia\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cParticipation is voluntary by design for both students and teachers,\u201d they said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSchools that decide to celebrate the day are advised to provide opt-out options \u2014 such as alternative supervision or a quiet space \u2014 for anyone who chooses not to take part.<\/p>\n
\u201cSchools must ensure that content complies with Child Safe Standards and be tailored to students\u2019 maturity. <\/p>\n
\u201cFor younger students, the focus is kindness, respect and friendship in line with school values. <\/p>\n
\u201cFor older students, discussion may extend to identity and inclusion \u2014 not sexual content or intimacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
NewsWire has contacted the primary school for comment. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A former school principal claims she was forced to resign from her role and ultimately quit teaching 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